The 60-year-old Indian man who died on Thursday in a hospital in the southwest state of Kerala, had two sons and a sister-in-law succumb to the Nipah virus, which is spread by fruit bats.
"He was on ventilator support for a week and died today morning," Kerala state health director Sarita R. L. told AFP.
Dead bats were found in a well at the home of the deceased, who has been identified as V. Moosa, in the coastal city of Kozhikode - the epicentre of the viral outbreak that has authorities on high alert.
A nurse who treated one of V. Moosa's sons also died.
"Each and every person who was in contact with any suspected patient is being monitored," Sarita said.
Authorities have confirmed there are two other cases of the virus, but it is unclear whether these patients came into contact with Moosa’s family, or contracted it elsewhere.
Nipah is a zoonotic virus, meaning it is transmitted to humans from animals, but it can also be transmitted directly from human contact.
Officials inspect a well in the Kozhikode district. Source: AFP
Dozens of other suspected patients are being quarantined and many more monitored by health officials in at least four districts in the state.
Meanwhile, the neighbouring states of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Goa are on high alert, after two Karnataka locals returned home after a trip to Kerala, exhibiting symptoms of the virus.
The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said the situation is under control, and there is not yet any confirmation of the spread of the disease in other parts of India.
“We are currently preparing a national advisory for Nipah virus for all states and Union territories. Currently we are focussing on neighbour states,” said NCDC spokesperson, Sunil Gupta.
“Currently, the cases are limited to Kerala only. We urge the public not to panic.”
Rajeshwari Devi, a health official in the Karnataka city of Mangalore, told AFP the patients' condition was improving but doctors were awaiting the results of blood tests.
The Kerala government has issued a travel advisory, and authorities in Karnataka have told tourists and locals to avoid visiting districts which border Kerala.
Medical personnel wearing protective suits check patients at the Medical College hospital in Kozhikode. Source: AFP
The Nipah virus has killed more than 260 people in Malaysia, Bangladesh and India since 1998 and has a mortality rate of nearly 70 per cent, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The disease is listed as one of the WHO’s eight priority diseases, a list which identifies viruses which have the potential to cause “a public health emergency”.
The Nipah virus in the Cerebrospinal fluid of an infected patient. Source: Universal Images Group Editorial / Getty Images
There is no treatment or vaccination for the virus which can induce severe fever, altered consciousness, acute respiratory distress and encephalitis (brain inflammation).
Kerala government ministers are reportedly meeting today to discuss the next steps in dealing with the disease.
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