Nipah virus: Kerala takes measures after teenager dies, 60 people found in high-risk zone

Health Minister Veena George informed local media in Malayalam that the infected boy passed away on Sunday following a cardiac arrest.

Authorities in Kerala are taking preventive measures after a 14-year-old boy died from the Nipah virus infection and 60 individuals were found to be in the high-risk category, the state health minister said.

Parts of Kerala are have been tagged as a high-risk area for the outbreak of the Nipah virus, which originates from fruit bats and animals like pigs and can cause a severe brain-swelling fever in humans. The virus is classified as a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to its potential to trigger epidemics. There is no vaccine yet to prevent Nipah virus infection, neither any specific treatment for it.

Health Minister Veena George informed the local media in Malayalam that the infected boy passed away on Sunday following a cardiac arrest. She further stated that the government has initiated steps to set up 25 committees to identify and isolate affected individuals as part of the Nipah virus control measures.

Dr Anoop Kumar, director of critical care medicine at Aster MIMS Hospital in Calicut, mentioned that a positive case of Nipah virus was confirmed in a school boy, and individuals who had contact with him are under observation. He expressed cautious optimism, suggesting a low likelihood of an outbreak at this stage but emphasised ongoing monitoring over the next seven to 10 days.

According to reports, there are 214 people identified as primary contacts of the infected boy. Isolation wards have been set up in healthcare facilities to manage potential cases, and family members of the affected patient have been placed under observation at a local hospital. Other individuals at risk have been advised to be in self-isolation at home.

The government is actively tracing and monitoring potentially affected individuals to prevent the spread of the virus. Since its first appearance in Kerala in 2018, Nipah virus has been linked to several fatalities in the state. Originating 25 years ago in Malaysia, the virus has also caused outbreaks in Bangladesh and Singapore.