In the state of Kerala in southern India,Tough measures were taken this week to curb the spread of the Nipah virus, which has claimed two lives. This is the fourth Nipah outbreak in the region since 2018, leading to the closure of some schools and offices.
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Briefing by Veena George, Minister of Health of Kerala Reuters That Human testing underway as part of efforts to curb spread of virus. Additionally, experts are collecting fluid samples from forested areas considered possible transmission hotspots.
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What is Nipah virus?
Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus It is mainly transmitted from animals to people and occasionally from people to people or through contaminated food.
It was first discovered in 1998 during an outbreak of swine fever among pig farmers in Malaysia and Singapore.
Pteropodous fruit bats, especially those of the genus Pteranodon, are natural hosts for Nipah virus, although they do not appear to suffer from the disease.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of Nipah virus infection Ranges from asymptomatic to severe respiratory illness or fatal encephalitis.Initial symptoms include Fever, headache, myalgia, vomiting, and sore throat occur, followed by neurological symptoms and acute encephalitis. SARS and severe respiratory illness may occur in some cases.
The mortality rate is estimated to be between 40% and 75%, depending on local epidemiological surveillance and clinical care capabilities.
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How does it spread?
In the early stages of the outbreak in Malaysia and Singapore, Most human infections result from direct contact with sick pigs or their contaminated secretions. Transmission is believed to occur via respiratory droplets or contact with nasopharyngeal secretions or tissue from sick pigs.
In Bangladesh and India, The main source of infection is believed to be the consumption of fruit or fruit products contaminated with urine or saliva from infected bats. There are currently no studies confirming how long the virus persists in body fluids or the environment, especially in fruit.
Furthermore, in subsequent outbreaks in Bangladesh and India, limited human-to-human transmission was observed, mainly among family members and caregivers of infected patients.
How to treat?
Although Nipah virus infection is a research and development priority for WHO, there are no specific treatments or vaccines for Nipah virus infection.. For severe respiratory and neurological complications, intensive supportive care is recommended.
Major epidemics have occurred in the past, such as the 1998 outbreak in Malaysia and Singapore, which resulted in more than 100 deaths and nearly 300 infections. The virus has since spread thousands of kilometers, erupting in India and Bangladesh in 2001, resulting in 62 deaths among 91 cases. According to a Reuters investigation in May, the Indian state of Kerala has experienced outbreaks in 2018, 2019 and 2021 and is considered one of the regions with the highest risk of bat-borne virus outbreaks in the world.
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*This content was produced with the help of artificial intelligence based on information from Argentina’s El Pais and reviewed by reporters and editors.