Boy dies from brain-swelling virus

A 14-year-old boy in Kerala, India, has died from the Nipah virus, prompting health authorities to classify 60 individuals as high-risk due to potential exposure. The boy's death was attributed to cardiac arrest after contracting the virus, known for causing severe brain swelling and fever. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has labeled Nipah a priority pathogen with epidemic potential and there is currently no vaccine or cure available. The Kerala government has initiated measures to isolate and monitor contacts, setting up 25 committees for tracking. Dr. Anoop Kumar from Aster MIMS Hospital noted that while one case has been confirmed, there is a minimum chance of an outbreak at this stage, with the situation under close observation for the next week. Nipah has been linked to multiple outbreaks in the region since its first identification in 1998, with previous instances resulting in numerous fatalities.