Health authorities in the Indian state of Kerala have issued a warning after a 14-year-old boy died from the Nipah virus, the BBC reports.
According to the state health secretary, another 60 people were identified as being in the high-risk category of contracting the disease.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George said the boy was from Pandikkad town and those who came in contact with him have been isolated and tested.
Local residents have been asked to take precautions, such as wearing masks in public and avoiding visiting people in the hospital.
What is Nipah virus?
Nipah virus infection is a “zoonotic disease” transmitted from animals such as pigs and fruit bats to humans, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The WHO has designated the virus a priority pathogen because of its potential to cause an epidemic.
What are the symptoms of Nipah virus?
Initial symptoms may include:
- Fever
- Headaches
- Muscle pain
- Vomit
- Sore throat
In some people, this may be followed by:
- Dizziness and/or drowsiness
- And/or altered consciousness
- And/or altered acute encephalitis
- And/or atypical pneumonia
- And/or other severe respiratory problems
How deadly is this?
People who contract the virus sometimes have no noticeable symptoms, while others show signs of acute respiratory distress. In severe cases, a Nipah virus infection can cause fetal encephalitis – a serious disease that affects the brain.
The mortality rate among those infected with the virus is high, as there is no medication or vaccine available to treat the infection. Treatment is limited to symptom management and supportive care.
How does it spread?
It can be transmitted through contaminated food and contact with an infected person.
Experts say that due to habitat loss, animals live closer to humans and this helps the virus to pass from animals to humans.
The Kerala state government recently announced that it is creating an action plan to prevent the outbreak of Nipah.
Last year, state officials closed schools and offices after five cases were confirmed.
Where was it sighted?
According to the WHO, the first two cases in 2001 and 2007 were reported in the eastern state of West Bengal.
In 2018, 17 people died in an outbreak in the Kozhikode and Malappuram districts of the southern state of Kerala.
The virus has been linked to dozens of deaths in Kerala state since it was first reported in 2018.
The 14-year-old died on Sunday, just a day after he was confirmed to have the virus, according to Indian media reports.
Parts of Kerala are said to be the world’s most dangerous for the virus. A study published by Reuters last year found that Kerala, a tropical state experiencing rapid urbanisation and rapid tree loss, created “ideal conditions for the emergence of a virus like Nipah”.
Source: BBC