This could be the first confirmed death in Kerala due to virus

• The Health Department has issued an alert in Malappuram after a six-year-old boy from the malappuram district undergoing treatment for West Nile fever died at the Government Medical College Hospital.
• Health experts claimed this could be the first confirmed death in Kerala due to the relatively unknown viral infection that leads to neurological diseases.
• Birds are the natural hosts of the virus and vaccine is not available for it.
• There had been a suspected case of the infection last year in Kozhikode district but the National Institute of Virology had not confirmed it.

Increased surveillance

• The Animal Husbandry Department would keep a surveillance on birds, especially in areas such as the Kadalundy bird sanctuary, which was frequented by a large number of migratory birds, she said.
• According to the World Health Organization, this viral infection is most often the result of mosquito bites. Mosquitoes are infected when they feed on birds, which circulate the virus.
• It may also be transmitted through contact with other infected animals, their blood, or other tissues.
• Symptoms of the virus infection include cold, fever, fatigue and nausea.

The Hindu