An alert has been declared in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka in the wake of Nipah virus infection in neighbouring Kerala and a boy succumbing to the disease on September 3.

Dakshina Kannada deputy Commissioner K V Rajendra issued the alert and appealed to the people to remain cautious. “Since Dakshina Kannada district shares its border with Kerala and a large number of people commute for health and education purposes, a Nipah alert has been announced,” he said in a statement.