Health authorities in the Indian state of Kerala have sounded an alert after a 14-year-old boy died from the Nipah virus.
An additional 60 people have been identified as being at high risk for the disease, according to the state health minister.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George said the boy was from Pandikkad and his contacts have been quarantined and tested.
Residents in the area have been asked to take precautions, including wearing masks in public places and avoiding visiting patients in hospitals.
What is Nipah Virus?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah virus infection is a “zoonotic disease,” meaning it spreads from animals such as pigs and fruit bats to humans.
WHO has classified the virus as a priority pathogen because of its potential to cause pandemics.
What are the symptoms of Nipah virus?
Early symptoms include:
- Fever
- headache
- Muscle pain
- throw up
- sore throat
In some people, the following symptoms may occur:
- Dizziness and/or drowsiness
- and/or changes in consciousness
- and/or transformed acute encephalitis
- and/or atypical pneumonia
- or other serious respiratory problems
How deadly is it?
People infected with the virus sometimes have no noticeable symptoms, while others show signs of acute respiratory problems. In severe cases, Nipah infection can cause fetal encephalitis, a serious disease that affects the brain.
The mortality rate for people infected with the virus is high because there are no drugs or vaccines to treat the infection. Treatment is limited to symptom management and supportive care.
How is Nipah virus spread?
It can be spread through contaminated food or through contact with an infected person.
Experts say habitat loss has forced animals to live closer to humans, helping viruses jump from animals to humans.
The Kerala government recently announced that it is formulating an action plan to prevent an outbreak of Nipah disease.
Last year, state officials closed schools and offices. After checking 5 cases.
Where has Nipah virus been found in India?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the first two outbreaks, in 2001 and 2007, were both reported in the eastern state of West Bengal.
In 2018, an outbreak in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts in southern Kerala killed 17 people.
The virus has been linked to dozens of deaths since it was first reported in Kerala in 2018.
According to Indian media reports, the 14-year-old boy died on Sunday, a day after being confirmed to have the virus.
Parts of Kerala are known to be among the most vulnerable to the virus globally. Published by Reuters last year The tropical state of Kerala is experiencing rapid urbanization and rapid tree loss, which has created “ideal conditions for the emergence of viruses like Nipah virus,” it said.
What is a fruit bat?
Fruit bats, also known as “megabats”, are a group that includes some of the largest bats in the world. These mammals, found primarily in tropical and subtropical regions, are the natural host of Nipah virus.
