Authorities in Kerala, India, are ramping up preventive measures following the death of a 14-year-old boy from the Nipah virus. The state’s health minister reported on Sunday that 60 individuals have been identified as high-risk contacts. According to a Reuters investigation last year, Kerala is among the regions globally most vulnerable to outbreaks of this virus. Nipah, which is transmitted from fruit bats and animals like pigs, can cause severe brain-swelling fever in humans.
The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies Nipah as a priority pathogen due to its epidemic potential. There is currently no vaccine or treatment available for the virus.
State Health Minister Veena George confirmed that the boy passed away from cardiac arrest on Sunday and noted that the government has established 25 committees to identify and isolate those affected.
Dr. Anoop Kumar, director of critical care medicine at Aster MIMS Hospital in Calicut, reported a confirmed case in a schoolboy and stated that those who came into contact with him are under observation. He indicated that the risk of a widespread outbreak is currently low, though the situation will be closely monitored over the next 7-10 days.
The state has identified 214 primary contacts of the boy, with 60 categorized as high-risk. Isolation wards have been set up at local health facilities for treatment, and family members are under observation at a local hospital. Those potentially at risk have been advised to isolate at home.
Efforts are underway to trace and contain any further spread of the virus. Nipah has been associated with multiple fatalities in Kerala since its emergence in the state in 2018. The virus was first identified in Malaysia 25 years ago and has caused outbreaks in Bangladesh, India, and Singapore.
