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Indian authorities have issued an alert after a 14-year-old boy died from infection by the deadly Nipah virus in the southern state of Kerala.
Nipah is zoonotic, meaning that it is passed to humans from animals such as pigs and fruit bats, and can cause a lethal brain-swelling fever. The victim was on a ventilator at a hospital in Malappuram and suffered a heart attack.
The National Institute of Virology in Pune confirmed the Nipah infection. Nipah is a priority pathogen with no vaccine or cure. The virus has caused outbreaks in Bangladesh, India, and other countries.
The Kerala government is taking measures to isolate and test potentially affected individuals. Authorities urge caution and compliance with safety protocols.