- In Kerala, a fresh case of Nipah virus has been reported from Ernakulam district whre a 23-year-old student was hospitalised.
- As per the Kerala government, it has assured that adequate precautions are being taken to contain the Nipah virus this time and the general public need not panic.
- Besides the 23-year-old student, health officials in Kerala have identified 86 people who interacted with the student. They are being observed for possible Nipah virus infection.
What is Nipah Virus?
- Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus (it is transmitted from animals to humans) and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people.
- In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis.
- The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers.
- Outbreaks of the Nipah virus in pigs and other domestic animals such as horses, goats, sheep, cats and dogs were first reported during the initial Malaysian outbreak in 1999.
- Nipah virus infection in humans causes a range of clinical presentations, from asymptomatic infection (subclinical) to acute respiratory infection and fatal encephalitis.
- The case fatality rate is estimated at 40% to 75%. This rate can vary by outbreak depending on local capabilities for epidemiological surveillance and clinical management.
- Nipah virus can be transmitted to humans from animals (such as bats or pigs), or contaminated foods and can also be transmitted directly from human-to-human.
- Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are the natural host of Nipah virus.
- There is no treatment or vaccine available for either people or animals. The primary treatment for humans is supportive care.
- The virus is highly contagious in pigs. Pigs are infectious during the incubation period, which lasts from 4 to 14 days.
