NEW DELHI, Sept 12 (Reuters) – India has recorded two deaths from the uncommon Nipah virus within the state of Kerala, an official from the National Institute of Virology stated on Tuesday.

One particular person died this month whereas one other dying occurred on Aug. 30, stated the official, who declined to be named.

Two extra folks from the identical household have been additionally suspected to have been contaminated and their samples have been despatched for testing, the official stated, including the virology institute had despatched its report back to the federal well being ministry.

The lethal brain-damaging Nipah virus, which is transmitted to people by direct contact with the bodily fluids of contaminated bats, pigs or different folks, was first recognized in 1999 throughout an outbreak of sickness affecting pig farmers and others in shut contact with pigs in Malaysia and Singapore.

There aren’t any therapies or vaccines in opposition to the virus.

Mass testing will start within the space the place the newest circumstances have been discovered and a few quarantine measures have been put in place

This is the fourth Nipah outbreak in Kerala since 2018. The first and worst outbreak started with a 26-year-old man who went to hospital with a fever and cough that unfold to members of the family and different sufferers earlier than it was identified as Nipah.

Twenty one of many 23 contaminated folks died then. In 2019 and 2021, Nipah claimed two extra lives.

A Reuters investigation printed in May recognized components of Kerala as among the many locations most in danger globally for outbreaks of bat viruses. Extensive deforestation and urbanization have introduced folks and wildlife into shut contact.

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