7-year old boy tests positive for WNV disease in south India

NEW DELHI, March 15 (Xinhua) -- A seven-year old boy in India's southern state of Kerala has tested positive for "West Nile Virus (WNV)" disease, which is mostly reported in continental United States, confirmed an official at the country's health ministry in New Delhi.

The disease spreads from birds to humans with the bite of an infected 'Culex' mosquito.

This is said to be the lone case reported in the country so far. According to the health authorities, "no other case has been reported yet."

The Indian Council of Medical Research has been alerted about the case. "There are no reports available so far about the spread of this virus in other parts of the country," an official press release said.

The boy developed symptoms of cold and fever almost two weeks ago, and is being treated in the intensive care unit of the Government Medical College and Hospital in Kozhikode.

The symptoms of WNV include cold, fever, bodyache, fatigue and nausea, with complications leading to meningitis and death.

The country's Minister of Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda is closely monitoring the situation and has directed for all support to be extended to the state government in its prevention and management.

The country's health ministry has dispatched a multi-disciplinary team of four expert doctors from the National Centre for disease Control to support the state health authorities in managing the disease.