Authorities in Kerala, southern India, are ramping up preventive measures after the recent death of a 14-year-old boy due to the Nipah virus. Health Minister Veena George announced on Sunday that 60 individuals identified as high-risk contacts are being closely monitored.
The Nipah virus, which is transmitted through fruit bats and certain animals such as pigs, has been a concern globally due to its potential for severe outbreaks. It is known to cause a fatal brain-swelling fever in humans and lacks both a vaccine and a specific treatment.
The teenager who passed away succumbed to cardiac arrest linked to the virus, as reported by George in a local TV briefing. The state government is actively responding by setting up 25 committees tasked with isolating and monitoring those affected.
Dr. Anoop Kumar, Director of Critical Care Medicine at Aster MIMS Hospital in Calicut, confirmed that one positive case has been detected in a school-aged child. He assured the public that while the situation is under control, continued vigilance is necessary for the next week to ten days.
The health department has compiled a list of 214 individuals who had primary contact with the infected boy. Of these, 60 are categorized as high-risk, and isolation wards are being utilized at local health institutions for their care. Family members of the deceased boy are being observed in a local hospital.
The case was initially confirmed in Malappuram, a town roughly 350 km from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala’s capital. Measures have been put in place to ensure those at risk are either isolated at home or monitored in healthcare facilities.
Since its first appearance in Kerala in 2018, the Nipah virus has been linked to multiple fatalities in the state. The government is working diligently to track and contain the virus’s spread to prevent further outbreaks.
With agency inputs.
