Health officials in Kerala have sounded an alarm after the state reported the first death due to the Nipah Virus. On Sunday, 21st July, Health Minister Veena George confirmed that a 14 year-old-boy who was battling the virus lost his life after suffering a massive heart attack. She further added that nearly 60 people, who are in the high-risk group, have been identified. People have been advised to use masks and take necessary precautions. The first Nipah Virus outbreak in South India was reported in 2018. The re-emergence of the Nipah virus in Kerala poses a fresh risk in the state. 

What Is Nipah?

Nipah is a serious and potentially life-threatening viral disease, characterized by a wide range of clinical manifestations. While some patients may be asymptomatic, others may experience symptoms ranging from acute respiratory infection to encephalitis and even death. The fatality rate is quite high and estimated to be anywhere between 40 to 75 per cent. The virus is highly contagious and the patient can fall into a coma within a day or two of getting infected. 

How Does Nipah Virus Spread?

The World Health Organization has defined Nipah Virus or NiV as a Zoonotic Virus, which means that it can be transmitted from animals to humans. The natural hosts of this virus are fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family, but there have been cases where pigs, as well as some other domestic animals, can be the host to this virus. Although there have been very few outbreaks in the past, NiV can potentially infect a wide range of animals and can lead to deaths making it a watch-out outbreak. 

Here are some ways in which the virus can spread to humans:

• If one comes in direct contact with an infected animal
• If one consumes any food or drink that may be contaminated
• If one comes in contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person

Must Read:  Why Preparedness Against Nipah Virus(NiV) is Vital rather blind belief on Vaccines? 

Nipah Virus Outbreak - Genesis As Per WHO

NiV was first identified during an outbreak of disease that took place in Kampung Sungai Nipah, Malaysia in 1999. On this occasion, pigs were the intermediate hosts. However, in subsequent NiV outbreaks, there were no intermediate hosts. In Bangladesh in 2001, humans became infected with NiV as a result of consuming date palm sap that had been contaminated by infected fruit bats. Human-to-human transmission has also been documented, including in a hospital setting in India. NiV is also capable of causing disease in pigs and other domestic animals. There is no vaccine for either humans or animals. The primary NiV treatment for human cases is intensive supportive care.

Nipah Virus Signs & Symptoms (NiV)

A person infected with Nipah Virus generally starts experiencing the symptoms anywhere between 3 to 14 days of being infected, however, there has also been a case with an incubation period of 45 days. This means that the person was asymptomatic for 45 days despite being infected. Common symptoms that have been seen in the infected people include:

• Fever and severe headaches
• Muscle pain
• Sore throat
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness/drowsiness
• Unconsciousness
• Disorientation & mental confusion
• Respiratory problem
• Pneumonia
• Encephalitis 
• Seizures

Patients with acute encephalitis and seizures may fall into a coma within a day or two. Although some patients make a full recovery, others may experience long-term neurological deficits like seizure disorder or personality change.  

Nipah Virus Prevention

Preventive measures that can help to lower the risks of getting infected with Nipah include: 

• Stay away from an infected person.
• Stay away from infected Bats, pigs, and places that have a known case of infected bat/s or pig/s.
• Avoid eating fruits that have fallen on the ground.
• Thoroughly wash fruits before eating them.
• Peel fruits before you eat them and discard those with signs of animal bites.
• Avoid drinking raw date palm sap. 
• If you come in the vicinity of any NiV-infected person or animal, you must maintain a distance and take necessary precautions. Do not forget to wear a mask and gloves.
• After tending to a patient, sanitize and wash your hands properly.
• Clean your clothes, utensils, and bathroom items like mugs and buckets and those of an infected person separately. Ensure that they are all maintained hygienically.

How Is Nipah Diagnosed?

The symptoms of Nipah Virus are non-specific and often take time to show up, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. As per the World Health Organization, “Nipah virus infection can be diagnosed with clinical history during the acute and convalescent phase of the disease. The main tests used are real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from bodily fluids and antibody detection via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Other tests used include polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and virus isolation by cell culture.”

Nipah Virus Treatment 

As of now, there is no known cure for Nipah and doctors generally focus on managing the symptoms. Patients are kept in isolation and given intensive care, personalized to address their specific symptoms and complications. 

Disclaimer: This blog including the advice provided is generic information and taken from WHO & CDC mainly. It is not a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. We advise you to always consult a medical specialist for more information. We strongly recommend consulting a Doctor in case of any related queries.

FAQs

Q1 - Is there any vaccine for the Nipah Virus?

A - There are no vaccines available for the Nipah virus as of now. A person infected with NiV needs intensive care as the first line of action. This perhaps makes it a must to take all precautions and to share it with all your friends and family too.

Q2 - Can the Nipah virus spread from person to person?

A - Yes, the Nipah Virus can spread from an infected person to a healthy person. 

Q3 - Is the Nipah Virus only spread by bats?

A - No, the Nipah virus is not only spread by bats and can also spread via pigs and other domesticated animals, as well as humans. 

Q4 - What are the symptoms of Nipah?

A -The symptoms of Nipah include fever, headache, nausea, drowsiness, unconsciousness, confusion, seizures, respiratory problems, pneumonia and encephalitis. 

Sources 

https://www.who.int/southeastasia/outbreaks-and-emergencies/health-emergency-information-risk-assessment/surveillance-and-risk-assessment/nipah-virus-outbreak-in-kerala

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/nipah-virus