What is Nipah virus? Causes, symptoms and preventive measures for this deadly threat
Nipah virus
. Health authorities around the world are closely monitoring the situation as the virus is known not only for its alarmingly high fatality rate but also for the fact that there is currently no specific vaccine or treatment available.
Health experts have warned that if left unchecked, the Nipah virus has the potential to trigger the next pandemic. With a fatality rate ranging between 40% and 70%, far higher than that of SARS-CoV-2, the virus poses a serious public health threat.
Recognizing the urgent need for action, the
World Health Organization
(WHO) has identified Nipah virus as a priority disease for its Research and Development Blueprint.
The young girl who tested positive for a highly contagious and deadly disease carried by fruit bats sadly passed away on July 1, prompting Indian authorities to raise an urgent alert.
The virus, part of the same family as measles, spreads easily through human contact. Officials are racing to trace those exposed to her, with several already in intensive care. In a separate case, a 38-year-old woman remains critical, with 425 contacts identified, 12 under treatment, and five receiving intensive care.
A look back at the history of Nipah infections
Nipah virus, named after Sungai Nipah village where the virus was first detected, first came to light back in 1999 when an outbreak hit pig farmers.
The very first outbreak in Malaysia (which also affected Singapore) mainly spread through contact with sick pigs. People got infected when they touched the animals or came into contact with contaminated tissues, often without any protective gear.
Things, however, took a different turn in 2001 when the virus showed up in Bangladesh, and since then, outbreaks have happened almost every year. The nature of the infection has evolved, as the later cases in Bangladesh and India reported being sick after consuming fruits or raw date palm sap that had unknowingly been contaminated by bats' saliva or urine.
Although the infection is currently limited to a small but deadly belt, the urgent call for preparedness in other countries is important.
The World Health Organization highlighted how the virus passed from person to person in these outbreaks, especially in close-contact situations. In Siliguri, India, in 2001, the virus even made its way through hospitals, and about 75% of the cases were either hospital workers or visitors.
People trying to help others ended up getting sick themselves.
Between 2001 and 2008, in Bangladesh, nearly half the cases came from people who had cared for loved ones who were infected.
What is the Nipah virus?
As per the Cleveland Clinic, Nipah virus (NiV) is a virus that spreads between animals and people (a zoonotic virus). As mentioned earlier, it spreads through fruit bats but can also pass through pigs and other animals like goats, horses, dogs, or cats. The virus spreads when:
People or animals come in close contact with the blood, poop, pee, or saliva of an infected animal
Eat food that has been contaminated by an infected animal
Come in close contact with a person who has the Nipah virus
According to the WHO, Nipah is a virus that has the potential to cause a pandemic as it can not only transmit between animals and humans, but also because it has a fatality rate as high as 75 per cent.
Even patients who survive the virus are left with long-term neurological conditions.
What are the symptoms of the Nipah virus?
People infected with Nipah virus usually start off with symptoms like fever, headaches, muscle pain (myalgia), vomiting, and a sore throat. As the illness progresses, some may experience dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and other neurological signs pointing to acute encephalitis—a serious brain infection. In some cases, the infection can also cause breathing issues, such as atypical pneumonia or even acute respiratory distress.
In the most severe cases, encephalitis can lead to seizures and rapidly progress to coma, sometimes within just 24 to 48 hours.
The virus is particularly dangerous as it might take a while for the symptoms to show after a person has been in contact with the virus. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), it takes about four to fourteen days for people to show symptoms of a Nipah infection. In rarer circumstances, it can take up to 45 days.
While most people who survive acute encephalitis make a full recovery, about 20% of patients are left with residual neurological consequences such as seizure disorder and personality changes. A small percentage of people who recover subsequently relapse or develop delayed-onset encephalitis.
How to protect oneself from the Nipah Virus
Since there are no specific treatments or vaccines available for the Nipah virus, prevention becomes our best bet. Here are some key steps to help protect yourself:
Stay away from animals known to carry the virus, especially bats and pigs, particularly in areas where Nipah outbreaks have occurred.
Do not consume raw date palm sap, partially eaten fruits, or any food items that could have been contaminated by bats or other infected animals.
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water.
Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms or confirmed to have the virus.
Clean and disinfect surfaces that may have come into contact with infected people or animals to reduce the risk of transmission.
Keep track of public health alerts and avoid visiting areas where there are known Nipah virus outbreaks.
Cases around the world
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), Nipah outbreaks have only been reported from Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore. The recent death of the teenage girl has been reported from India.
As per a 2024 paper, a total of 754 human NiV cases and 435 deaths (58% fatality rate) have been reported globally, with Bangladesh accounting for the highest number, 341 cases and 241 deaths (71% fatality rate), followed by Malaysia- 283 cases and 109 deaths (Fatality rate: 39%), India- 102 cases and 74 deaths (Fatality rate: 73%), the Philippines- 17 cases and 9 deaths(Fatality rate: 53%), and Singapore 11 cases and 1 death(Fatality rate: 9%).
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