NEW DELHI: A fourth member of the same Indian family has died from the rare Nipah virus, officials said on Thursday, as authorities scramble to contain an outbreak that has claimed 11 lives. V. Moosa, who died on Thursday in a hospital in Kerala, had two sons and a sister-in-law succumb to the same deadly infection spread by fruit bats last week.

“He was on ventilator support for a week and died today morning,” said Kerala state health director Sarita R. L.

Dead bats were found in a well at their home in Kozhikode district — the epicentre of the viral outbreak that has authorities on high alert.

A nurse who treated one of Moosa’s sons also died, leaving a heart-wrenching note for her family.

“Each and every person who was in contact with any suspected patient is being monitored,” Sarita said.

Two other confirmed cases of Nipah virus have been detected and the patients are being treated in hospital, she said. It was unclear whether these patients came into contact with Moosa’s family or contracted it elsewhere.

Officials suspect the infection outbreak spread from the unused well at Moosa’s home where the dead bats were found.

Dozens of other suspected patients were being quarantined and many more monitored by health officials in at least four districts in the state.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2018