The Nipah virus outbreak: should you be worried?
Here's what you need to know about this viral disease
HEALTH Viral disease
Health authorities in the southern Indian state of Kerala are on high alert following a flare-up of the deadly Nipah virus in July 2024. It comes after a 14-year-old boy died from the infection on July 21. The virus was first identified in 1999 in Malaysia and has led to outbreaks in Bangladesh, India, and Singapore. Parts of Kerala are among those most at risk globally for outbreaks of the virus.
Nipah, which comes from fruit bats and other animals such as pigs, can cause a lethal, brain-swelling fever in humans. Click on to learn more about the Nipah virus.