– A 14-year-old boy from Kerala’s Malappuram died after testing positive for the Nipah virus
– Four people in contact with the victim have developed Nipah symptoms with one in critical condition
– 330 people, including 68 health workers, are under observation with 101 in the high-risk category
– Monoclonal antibodies were brought from NIV-Pune but could not be used due to the poor condition of the boy
– Kerala has had previous Nipah outbreaks with a total of 21 deaths since 2018
– The source of the infection for the boy is still unknown
– The Centre has sent an outbreak response team to investigate the case and has advised active search for Nipah cases in the family and contacts of the boy
– Nipah is a viral infection that can be transmitted from animals to humans and causes serious illness
– The state Health Department has not confirmed if the boy is the index case for this year