Simone Smith
A 12-year-old boy died from the virus in Kerala, India
The 12-year-old boy was admitted to a hospital in Kozhikode, a city in the Indian state of Kerala, with symptoms of fever and brain inflammation, according to NPR. He was diagnosed with Nipah virus infection and died on Sept. 5.
Nipah virus was first discovered in 1999, when it caused an outbreak in Malaysia and Singapore linked to pig farms. According to the CDC, it killed more than 100 people, and since then, the virus has mainly caused outbreaks in Bangladesh and India.
Following the death, officials rushed to identify and isolate people who had come into close contact with the boy.
At least two healthcare workers who had contact with the boy started to show symptoms of the viral infection and were hospitalized while awaiting test results to confirm an infection. Officials also sealed off an area within a 2-mile (3.2 kilometers) radius of the boy’s home to investigate the outbreak.
According to CDD, Nipah virus is naturally found in fruit bats of the genus Pteropus, though it can jump to other animals, including humans. The virus can cause swelling of the brain known as encephalitis, and symptoms can include: fever and headache, followed by drowsiness, disorientation and confusion. People who are infected with the virus may fall into a coma within 48 hours of showing symptoms, according to the CDC.
