NEW DELHI: A deadly virus carried mainly by fruit bats has killed at least three people in southern India, sparking a statewide health alert yesterday, reports AFP.

Eight other deaths in the state of Kerala are being investigated for possible links to the Nipah virus, which has a 70 percent mortality rate.

Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged citizens to stay vigilant and follow instructions from the health department.

“Health department is doing everything possible to save the lives of the infected & prevent the advance of virus,” his office posted on Twitter.

The victims all died in Calicut district, said Kerala health secretary Rajeev Sadanandan.