The Nipah virus caused the death of a 24-year-old in the Indian state of Kerala, authorities reported September 16, 2024 — it was the second fatality after a teenager died from a Nipah infection in July.
Nipah is most common in fruit bats, which live in wooded areas close to the highly populated state of Kerala. It's also found in pigs.
Humans can pick up an infection from animals either directly, through droplets, or indirectly via contaminated surfaces. Human-to-human transmission is also possible. An infection can trigger encephalitis and lead to mild to severe illness, but also death.
The World Health Organization classifies Nipah as a priority pathogen, which means it has the potential to trigger an epidemic.
Nipah virus is commonly found in fruit bats (Pteropodidae), which feed on nectar and pollen, as opposed to vampire bats........