Everything about the Nipah Virus

Kerala has been on high alert due to mysterious deaths of eight people because of an unidentified viral attack. Out of these, three were reported to be caused by Nipah Virus (NiV). As per the National Institute of Virology, Pune, NiV is the sole cause of these three deaths. An unheard virus, NiV is yet to be understood by many. Here is what the virus is all about.
What is NiV?
As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nipah Virus is a newly emerging zoonosis that causes a severe disease in both animals and humans. This virus was first identified in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998. At that time, it was primarily caused in pigs and through them got transferred to humans. Nipah Virus infected as many as 265 people then, out of which 40% were taken under intensive care due to the infection having spread severely. As quoted by the WHO, the natural host of the virus are fruit bats of the Pteropodidae Family, Pteropus genus.
The virus can be transferred through infected bats, pigs or humans who have been infected.
In 2004, humans who consumed the date palm sap infected by fruit bats, caught the virus as well. Humans who were infected by other humans were reported in Bangladesh and India.
Signs and symptoms
Experts say that Nipah Virus is not an airborne transmission infection, it can only affect those who come in direct contact with contaminated bodies.
Nipah Virus is usually associated with inflammation of the brain due to which severe days of fever can often lead to a state of confusion, disorientation and even persistent drowsiness. If not taken care of, these symptoms can even cause a coma in a span of 24-48 hours. There are many patients who show neurological, respiratory and pulmonary signs as well. Therefore, do not ignore any such signs.
Some common signs and symptoms of NiV are headache, fever, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness and mental issues such as confusion. These symptoms can last up to 7-10 days. Watching out for respiratory illness during the early stages is also a must.
Prevention and cure
As of now, there is no particular vaccine available purely for the treatment of Nipah Virus. The only way to treat this virus is through intensive supportive care.
Since drinking raw date palm sap bitten by a bat can also cause NiV, it is safe to say that you should stay from consuming date palm for some time. Hospitals also need to raise awareness about symptoms and transmission to avoid human-to-human infections in such settings. Detection is another issue with NiV and anyone who feels the symptoms should get tested thoroughly from a recognized facility.
Avoiding direct contact with infected pigs, bats and humans in endemic regions should be practiced. Health professionals attending to such patients should take precautionary measures, such as wearing masks and gloves. If you feel uneasiness when in and around an infected region, get yourself tested immediately!
Commonly asked questions about Nipah Virus (NiV)
Q : What are the early symptoms  ? 
A : The initial presentation is non-specific, characterized by the sudden onset of fever, headache, muscle pain , nausea and vomiting. Neck rigidity and photophobia are also seen.
The disease rapidly progresses, with deterioration in consciousness leading to coma within five to seven days. 

Q : How is it diagnosed ? 
A : The diagnosis is by ELISA test, which is currently done at National institute of Virology, Pune.

Q : How is it treated ? 
A : Supportive care is the mainstay of treatment and infected patients may require intensive care monitoring.

              "THERE IS NO APPROVED  SPECIFIC THERAPY FOR THIS INFECTION."
So prevention is the only cure ! 

Q : How do i prevent it ?
A : 
1. Avoid contact with pigs and pig handlers.
2. Maintain personal hygeine and intensive hand washing practices.
3. Avoid consuming raw fruits, Consume only well cooked, clean, home made food till the outbreak settles down. 
4. Preferably use N95 mask while travelling or working in public places to avoid person to person transmission.
5. Be aware of the symptoms and report to the doctor immediately for early diagnosis and treatment.



(Content courtesy: TNN)
Location: G-108, FF, Preet Vihar, New Delhi, Delhi 110092, India

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