What is Nipah Virus? Causes, Symptoms, Transmission, Treatment, Prevention & More

Nipah virus 2024: The Kozhikode Health Department has issued a health warning following two “unnatural” deaths in the district in the past two weeks, which are believed to be caused by the Nipah virus.

Nipah virus is an emerging infectious disease with disturbing capabilities and high mortality rate. It can cause severe illness in humans and animals. Let’s learn about Nipah virus, its transmission, symptoms, prevention and treatment through this article.

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What is Nipah virus?

Nipah virus is an infectious disease that was first discovered in 1998 and 1999 when it caused brain fever among pig farmers in Malaysia and Singapore. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus is believed to naturally infect fruit bats, but it can also infect pigs and other domestic animals like dogs, cats, goats, etc. The infection can affect humans and the virus can also be transmitted from person to person. India first reported the virus in 2001 and Bangladesh in 2004.

Organisms that cause Nipah virus (NiV) Encephalitis is an RNA or RNA viruses of the genus Henipavirus in the family Paramyxoviridae, closely related to Hendra virus. Flying fox (a fruit-eating species commonly known as flying fox) is believed to be the natural host of the virus.

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Did you know that Henniba virus is a bat-borne virus? Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV)They cause severe and often fatal illness in humans and animals. Hendra virus, which infects horses and then humans, was first reported in Australia in 1994.

Nipah virus is listed under the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Terrestrial Animal Health Regulations and must be reported to the OIE (OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Regulations).

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How is Nipah virus transmitted or spread?

Nipah virus is transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected bats, infected pigs, or other people infected with Nipah virus. In Malaysia and Singapore, humans can only be infected with Nipah virus through close contact with infected pigs, which in turn come into contact with bats that have lost their habitat due to deforestation.

The disease is spread by fruit bats or flying foxes, which are the natural hosts of Nipah and Hendra viruses. Did you know that the virus is found in bat urine, bat feces, saliva and feces?

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Even transmission between farms may be due to fomites or the virus carried on clothing, equipment, boots, vehicles, etc.

In Bangladesh and India, the virus is spread through raw palm sap contaminated by bat droppings, by climbing trees covered in droppings, or by people infected with the virus.

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Symptoms of Nipah virus infection

• Fever, headache, drowsiness, vomiting, and fainting.
• Disoriented and mentally confused.
• Encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain.
• It usually takes five to fourteen days for symptoms of infection to begin to appear.
• Infected people or animals may lose consciousness or go into a coma.
• According to the CDS, long-term side effects for survivors can include convulsions and personality changes.
• The final stage is brain fever, which may lead to death.

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Prevention

Nipah virus infection is a new disease and there is currently no drug to treat the disease or vaccine to prevent it. Therefore, we should take appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of the disease.

• Avoid eating raw fruits that have been contaminated by bats. Eat cooked, clean food.
• Also avoid consuming contaminated date palm products, including palm wine.
• Avoid contact with pigs and people who keep pigs.
• Maintain personal hygiene and wash your hands frequently.
• Health care workers who treat patients with NiV infection should take appropriate precautions, such as washing hands, wearing gowns or masks, and wearing gloves.
• Use an N95 mask when traveling or working in public places to avoid person-to-person transmission.
• If you feel unwell in or around an infected area, get tested right away.

In 2024, a death from Nipah virus was confirmed in Kerala, India, as the region continues to battle the zoonotic disease.

• Recent Deaths: On September 9, 2024, a 24-year-old man from Malappuram district died after showing symptoms consistent with Nipah virus infection. On September 15, tests conducted by the National Institute of Virology, Pune, confirmed that his death was caused by the virus. Before his death, he had visited multiple hospitals and traveled extensively, prompting health authorities to trace and quarantine 151 primary contacts.
• Earlier cases: Earlier this year, a 14-year-old boy from the same district also died of Nipah virus on July 21. His case raised alarm and prompted an immediate public health response, including movement restrictions in the affected area.
• Public Health Response: The Kerala government has implemented strict health protocols to respond to these outbreaks. This includes contact tracing, isolation of suspected cases, and establishment of containment zones. Health officials are monitoring people who have come in contact with confirmed cases and testing those who are showing symptoms.

Nipah virus is a bat-borne virus that can infect humans and other animals and is known to have a high mortality rate. There are currently no drugs or vaccines available to treat the virus. Avoiding infected animals or locations where Nipah virus is known to be circulating, as well as using protective gear and disinfecting surfaces, are all part of the prevention strategy.

Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
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