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Unfortunately, Nipah virus (NiV) has recently made headlines, grabbing everyone’s attention. What is scarier are the rumors floating around the topic. Being well-informed can equip people to deal with often misplaced fears. Here, we bring you the breakdown of the NiV disease, which has already claimed many lives.
Back To The Beginning
Nipah virus was witnessed first during a disease outbreak in 1998 in Kampung Sungai Nipah, in Malaysia. Shortly, another outbreak was reported in Singapore in 1999. The pigs were the intermediate hosts at that time. Even the origin of the virus name comes from a Malaysian village where the disease was reported first.
From Malaysia To India
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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), after the first two Nipah outbreaks, none of the later occurrences involved intermediate hosts. In 2004, people in Bangladesh became infected with the Nipah virus following the consumption of the date palm sap infected by the fruit bats (1).
The outbreaks in Malaysia and Singapore were a result of pigs being infected by the Nipah virus. It would have typically spread to the people who stayed around such infected pigs. Whereas, in Bangladesh, the disease sourced from the fruit bats. A local practice there involves extraction of sap from palm trees that are also home to these bats. The secretions of a bat like urine, saliva, and others contaminate the sap resulting in the spread of the virus.
Here, in Kerala as well, the disease is said to have originated from a well which was inhabited by the fruit bats. Once the disease infects a human being, it can spread further with a human-to-human transmission. It can get transmitted with contact to secretions like cough, saliva, and urine, among others.
NiV Disease Symptoms
The first case of the Nipah virus disease outbreak was reported on 19th May 2018, from Kerala’s Kozhikode district. As of 28th May 2018, the disease has resulted in 14 deaths, 16 confirmed cases, and 12 suspected cases (2).
At the disease’s initial stage, one can suffer from fever and non-specific muscle ache. One can also identify this disease with symptoms like fatigue, headache, breathlessness, blurry vision, nausea, and vomiting along with stomach ache.
The symptoms are noticeable within 5-14 days of being exposed to the Nipah virus. After this, patients show rapid deterioration with severe respiratory issues and brain tissue inflammation or swelling. The organs which show deterioration depend on the part of the brain that gets affected more. The infection can result in mental confusion or even coma.
Prevention Is Your Best Bet
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No cure exists for the disease, and thus, prevention becomes essential. Avoid contact with patients and animals suffering from the Nipah virus disease. Wash your hands regularly and maintain hygiene. While looking after the patient, cover your eyes, mouth, and nose. The belongings of the infected like wallet, mobile phone, or watch should be kept separately.
Please note that the Nipah virus can remain inactive in a human body for months and might get reactivated later. However, one can look out for signs and symptoms of personality change and convulsions to detect this.
Viral or bacterial diseases affect the population in general. However, pregnant women and children might be more susceptible to specific infectious diseases depending on their immunological conditions. Pregnancy even poses many challenges for making decisions regarding prevention and treatment of particular infections. Thus, it is wise to follow the aforementioned guidelines to stay safe (3).
Treatment Options Available
The treatment for Nipah virus infection is presently restricted to supportive care. Though vaccines and treatments are not presently available, trials are being conducted to find the same. Trials conducted on animals with the anti-viral, favipiravir, have shown promise (4). Talks of alternative medicines finding a cure are afloat, but none have been proven so far.
We are sure that this thorough breakdown of the Nipah virus disease would have helped you understand it better. It is important to stay aware and vigilant about the infection and its prevention. Early detection and immediate action can make all the difference.
