Indian state on alert after boy dies of deadly Nipah infection

Indian authorities have issued a warning after a 14-year-old boy died from infection with the deadly Nipah virus in the southern state of Kerala.

Nipah is zoonotic, meaning it is transmitted from animals such as pigs and fruit bats to humans, and can cause fatal cerebral swelling fever. The incubation period is four to 14 days.

The victim was on a ventilator at a hospital in Malappuram and suffered a heart attack at around 10.50 a.m. local time on Sunday..

“The boy was unconscious. His urine output was very low. He suffered a severe cardiac arrest,” said Health Minister Veena George. “Doctors tried their best to save the boy, but unfortunately he died.”

The National Institute of Virology in Pune has confirmed that the boy was infected with Nipah, Ms George said.

Nipah is classified as a “priority pathogen” by the World Health Organization because it has the potential to cause an epidemic. There is no vaccine to prevent the infection and no cure.

The virus has been linked to dozens of deaths since it first appeared in the coastal state of Kerala in 2018. The virus was first identified in Malaysia 25 years ago and has led to outbreaks in Bangladesh, India and Singapore.

Symptoms include high fever, vomiting, respiratory infections, and in severe cases, encephalitis and seizures leading to coma.

The boy’s funeral will be conducted in accordance with international protocol on the virus outbreak, the Health Minister said. “We will speak to the boy’s family members to complete the formalities related to the funeral,” Ms George said.

The Kerala government has formed 25 committees to identify and isolate the affected people.

“Contact tracing has begun. High-risk contacts have been isolated and their samples have been sent for testing,” the Health Minister said, according to the Press Trust of India.

She said at least three people were isolated at Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital and four at Manjeri Government Medical College Hospital.

“Of the four people at Manjeri GMCH, one person is in the intensive care unit. The results of the samples taken from them will be available soon. They all have viral fever. However, there is no need to panic and the people on the contact list should not worry,” she said.

A total of 246 people are on the Nipah contact list in Malappuram, 63 of whom are in the high-risk category.

“A mobile testing laboratory of the National Institute of Virology, Pune, will reach the district today,” the minister was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.

Authorities urged people in the suspected epicenter to wear masks as a precaution and avoid hospitals. Hindustan Newspaper reported.

“A radius of three kilometres around the epicentre of Pandikkad town will be strictly maintained and restrictions will be imposed,” said Ms George.

The authorities also warned the population not to eat fruit that is half eaten or has been bitten by birds or animals.

“Eat fruit only after washing it thoroughly. Do not drink beverages such as grog that are stored in open containers.”