Kochi, India — Kerala state in southern India is on high alert after a 14-year-old boy died from the Nipah virus, with 60 people identified as being in the high-risk category, according to the state’s health minister.
Parts of Kerala are prone to Nipah outbreaks, as highlighted by a recent Reuters investigation. The virus, originating from fruit bats and animals like pigs, can cause a fatal brain-swelling fever in humans. Classified as a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization, there is currently no vaccine or cure for Nipah.
Authorities have set up committees to identify and isolate those affected, with one confirmed case in a schoolboy. Dr. Anoop Kumar of Aster MIMS Hospital mentioned a low risk of an outbreak currently but continues to monitor the situation closely.
With 214 primary contacts of the infected boy, 60 are considered high-risk and are being treated in isolation wards. Efforts are also being made to track and contain the spread of the virus, which has previously caused deaths in Kerala.
Research on a Nipah vaccine is in progress, as the virus has been a concern for over 25 years in various countries.