Health officials in Kerala, India, have issued an alert following the death of a 14-year-old boy from the Nipah virus. The teenager, from the town of Pandikkad, died on Sunday, a day after being diagnosed with the infection.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George confirmed that 60 individuals are now considered high-risk for contracting the virus. Those who had contact with the boy have been isolated and tested. Local residents are advised to wear masks in public and avoid hospital visits as a precaution.
The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies Nipah as a zoonotic illness, transmitted from animals such as pigs and fruit bats to humans. It can also spread through contaminated food or direct contact with an infected person. The WHO lists it as a priority pathogen due to its epidemic potential.
Since the first reported case in Kerala in 2018, the virus has caused numerous deaths in the state. Symptoms range from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. A Reuters investigation highlighted that Kerala's rapid urbanisation and deforestation create ideal conditions for Nipah to emerge, with habitat loss bringing animals closer to humans.
The state government has announced plans to develop an action plan to prevent future outbreaks. In 2023, authorities shut schools and offices after five cases were confirmed.
