KOLKATA: A Indian soldier has died in West Bengal state of suspectedinfection by the Nipah virus, an official said Wednesday, heightening fearsthe rare disease may be spreading.

Nipah, which is mainly spread by bats, is confirmed to have killed 13people in the latest outbreak which so far has been restricted to thesouthern state of Kerala.

The soldier was admitted to hospital in Kolkata on May 20, a week afterreturning from holiday in Kerala, according to defence ministry spokeswomanDipannita Dhar.

“A soldier, Seenu Prasad, died of suspected Nipah virus in Command Hospitalin Kolkata on Sunday,” Dhar said.

“He had shown symptoms similar to that of Nipah virus infection.” Bodyfluid and blood samples were being examined, the spokeswoman added.

There is no vaccination for the virus, which induces flu-like symptoms thatlead to brain damage and a coma and has a 70 percent mortality rate.

Nipah has killed more than 260 people in Malaysia, Bangladesh and Indiasince it first appeared in Malaysia in 1998.

The World Health Organisation has named the virus as one of the eightpriority diseases that could cause a global epidemic, alongside the likesof Ebola and Zika.

Nipah is named after the Malaysian village where it first appeared.

In India the disease was first reported in 2001 and again six years later,with the two outbreaks claiming 50 lives.

Both times the disease was reported in West Bengal state which bordersBangladesh.

Bangladesh has borne the brunt of the disease in recent years, with morethan 100 people dying of Nipah since a first outbreak was reported in 2001.

Four victims from the latest outbreak in Kerala hailed from one family.Dead bats were found in a well at their home.

However a recent report by Indian medical experts ruled out bats and pigsas the primary source of the outbreak.