In recent days, Kerala and part of India and other parts of the world has been put on high alert due to mysterious deaths of people because of an unidentified viral attack.
According to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, the virus was identified as Nipah Virus. So what is Nipah Virus Infection? How does it spread? What are the symptoms and how to avoid it? Here is all you need to know about the deadly Nipah Virus:
What is NiV?
Nipah Virus Infection (NiV) is a viral infection caused by Nipah Virus. Nipah Virus is a newly emerging disease that causes a severe disease in both animals and humans. It was first identified in Kampung Sungai Nipah, Malaysia in 1998.
How does it spread?
The virus can be transferred through direct contact with infected bats, pigs, or humans who have been infected by this virus. Another major cause is consuming the date palm sap contaminated by fruits bats. The natural hosts of this virus are fruit bats of Pteropodidae Family, Pteropus genus. The animals which has been found out to be a carrier of this virus are bats majorly and pigs. Human beings can also become infected when they come in contact with any one who has contacted the same disease
Outbreaks
NiV outbreaks have been reported in Malaysia, Singapore, Bangladesh and India.
Nipah Virus Infection was first identified in Kampung Sungai Nipah, Malaysia in 1998. The hosts were infected pigs. More than a million pigs were killed to prevent this outbreak.
In 2001, NiV was reported from Meherpur District, Bangladesh. There were more cases reported in subsequent years as Naogaon District, Manikganj District, Rajbari District, Faridpur District and Tangail District fell victims to this deadly virus.
The first outbreak in India was reported from Siliguri, West Bengal in 2001. The second outbreak followed in 2007 in Nadia District of West Bengal. As per reports, the cause of this outbreak was consuming the date palm sap tapped directly from trees, a sweet fruit that fruits bats also enjoy.
The latest outbreak has been recorded from Kozhikode District, Kerala in May 2018.
Symptoms
Initial symptoms include fever, headache, drowsiness and mental confusion start appearing within 3-14 days after exposure. These symptoms can progress into coma as soon as 24-48 hours. Respiratory illness can be seen in the early stages of this disease. Encephalitis is the dreaded complication of NiV.
Diagnosis
Laboratory diagnosis of NiV is done using real time polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) from throat swabs, urine, CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) and blood analysis during acute and recuperating stages of the disease. IgG and IgM antibody detection can be done after recuperating to confirm NiV.
Immunohistochemistry on tissues collected during autopsy can be used to confirm NiV. Viral RNA can be isolated from the saliva of infected persons.
Treatment
At present, there is no particular vaccine available for treatment of Nipah Virus Infection. Ribavirin has been shown effective in in vitro tests, but has not been proven effective in humans yet. The only treatment is intensive supportive care.
Prevention
- As consumption of date palm sap is a cause of NiV, it should be avoided for some time.
- ·Avoid exposure to bats and sick pigs in endemic areas.
- Hospitals should raise awareness about symptoms and transmission to avoid further outbreaks
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