India is on alert after a fresh outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus. Here’s what you need to know

Health authorities in the southern Indian state of Kerala are on high alert following the latest flare-up of the deadly Nipah virus.

It comes after a 14-year-old boy died from an infection over the weekend and as authorities race to track those who came into contact with him.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George said Tuesday that the close relatives of the teenager had tested negative for the virus, according to local media reports. She added that precautionary measures such as wearing face masks in public areas could not be lifted yet.

The state's health minister has previously said that 60 people had been identified as being in the high-risk category of having the disease. All of those identified as high-risk are being tested for the virus.

The Nipah virus, which partly inspired the fictional "MEV-1" virus in the 2011 Hollywood film "Contagion," is considered one of the most dangerous pathogens circulating in the wild.

First identified 25 years ago in Malaysia, Nipah is estimated to have a case fatality rate as high as 75% and has been cited as having the potential to spark another pandemic. There is currently no vaccine to prevent infection and no treatment to cure it.

The Nipah virus is transmitted to humans from animals such as fruit bats or pigs. The virus is known to cause a lethal brain-swelling fever in humans.

The World Health Organization says human infections can range from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory infection.

Dr. Roderico H. Ofrin, WHO Representative to India, said Tuesday that the latest Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala appeared to have a "low risk" of further transmission.

"Active and extensive contact tracing was carried out by the Kerala government. 60 people had a close contact with the