Kerala on alert after 47-year-old man dies due to West Nile fever
A 47-year-old man died due to West Nile fever in Kerala's Thrissur district, on Sunday, May 29. This is the first fatality in the state caused by the vector-borne infection in the last three years, prompting the Health Department to issue directions for people to eliminate mosquito breeding sites to prevent the disease. West Nile Fever is a mosquito-borne disease caused by flavivirus WNV and is related to viruses that cause Japanese Encephalitis, yellow fever and St Louis encephalitis. The Kerala Health Department said it took proactive measures as soon as a case of West Nile fever was detected in Thrissur district. "A special team from the medical office visited the locality of the victim and the district vector control board took samples from various parts of the district for testing. Steps were taken to destroy the mosquito breeding sites in the locality," the release said. Sources told PTI that the man developed fever and other symptoms on May 17, and after getting t...