NIPAH virus (Niv) and Hendra Virus are latest life threatening communicable infections after Bird flu and Swine flu Epidemics in 21st century. New Viral epidemics are a big health worry because communities are often unprepared due to lack of proper treatment. This post discuss NIPAH virus that recently outbroke in India and was successfully contained before turning into epidemic.
What Is NIPAH Virus (Niv)
Nipah virus is a newly emerged RNA virus which has caused death in the infected humans, it can affect animals also. It was first reported in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998.
How Nipah Virus Spread
Nipah virus is spread by secretions of infected fruit bats, pigs and human. Secretions such as saliva, urine or faeces carry the virus. Fruit bat is the natural host. Fruits infected by bats also spread nipah virus. Disease is transmitted from human to human only during the symptomatic phase through close contact.
Symptoms Of Nipah Infection
NIPAH fever and other symptoms can take 4 days to 2 weeks to appear, and can be confused with common cold and normal fever . Initial symptoms include fever, headache, body ache, drowsiness and mental confusion. This is a brain damaging virus, there is brain inflammation, after 2 days patient can even go to coma. Nipah virus can also infect respiratory system, causing cough and difficulty in breathing. Nipah virus has lead to death in more than 40% of infected persons.
Prevention From Nipah Virus Infection
Best way to prevent nipah virus is hygiene.
• Avoid visiting infected areas
• Clean hands properly
• Eat only properly cooked food
• Avoid fruits sourced from infected areas
Treatment For Nipah Virus
The only way to treat Nipah virus is through intensive supportive care. Ribavirin has been shown effective in in vitro tests. In vitro also studies claimed that the anti-malarial drug chloroquine was shown to block the critical functions needed for maturation of Nipah virus.
However, more recent animal studies have revealed no therapeutic benefit of either drug.
Vaccine For Nipah Virus
Currently there is no vaccine for nipah virus.
NIPAH Virus Outbreak In India
Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala is third outbreak in India. As on 31st May 2018 death toll Rises to 16. But the situation has been brought under control by 6 June 2018. Kerala achieved this by prompt action. After detecting the first case, the authorities in Kerala were able to trace every single case reported thereafter to the first case or his contacts/carers. Active surveillance and isolation of symptomatic cases was done. About 2,000 contacts of all the cases were traced and followed up on a daily basis. If and when any of them fell ill, they were moved to the isolation facility to the Government Medical College at Kozhikode. Health personnel in all the hospitals were given training and safety equipment. Now the threat is controlled.