Indian scientists warn of “mutant measles” virus

Indian scientists have warned that India may be witnessing the emergence of a highly lethal measles-like virus, causing encephalitis in adults and children.

Scientists investigating an outbreak of encephalitis among adults in the town of Siliguri, in West Bengal, told the health ministry this week that the disease was caused by a mutant measles virus that affects the brain, lungs, or kidneys.

“For now, we're calling this a variant of measles,” Dr Nirmal Kumar Ganguly, director general of the Indian …