Nipah virus is an emerging zoonotic illness with high case fatality rates that spreads between animals and humans through contact with bodily fluids of infected pigs or fruit bats, particularly through contact with infected surfaces in buildings such as playgrounds.
At first outbreaks in Malaysia and Singapore between 1998-99, transmission mostly took place through consumption of food or drink contaminated with bat urine, feces or saliva. Transmission also occurred through direct human-to-human contact while caring for infected patients.
Nipah Virus Symptoms
Nipah virus infection occurs when someone comes in contact with bodily fluids of an infected bat or pig, such as pee, poop, blood or saliva from either species; people may also become sick from eating food products contaminated with these fluids such as raw date palm sap and fruit; they could even come into contact with bats via climbing trees where they sleep/rest as they come into direct contact; additionally it can spread within families of infected individuals and through family transmission among family members of infected family members of patients infected by direct family transmission of family members of family members of an infected individual infected with Nipah virus infection.
Nipah infections usually show their first signs within four to 14 days after exposure; symptoms typically include fever, headaches, sore throats and difficulty breathing. Later on some people develop brain swelling (encephalitis) which causes confusion and drowsiness and ultimately leads to coma within 24 to 48 hours.
#WATCH | Malappuram: Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Nipah virus, "A suspected case of Nipah (virus) has been reported in Malappuram, we have done PCR tests and we have sent the test samples to Pune virology lab, we are waiting for the results. Since we suspect Nipah, the… pic.twitter.com/uX7CkSkFMO
— ANI (@ANI) July 20, 2024
Nipah infections can be fatal in 40% to 75% of cases. Their prognosis is worse for older adults and those exhibiting severe symptoms, including brain stem involvement (an abnormal doll’s eye reflex, abnormal pupils, high blood pressure and tachycardia) or altered sensorium (17).
An accurate diagnosis of nipah infection can be achieved using real time polymerase chain reaction from throat and nasal swabs, cerebrospinal fluid or blood samples collected during real time polymerase chain reaction analysis or antibody testing performed using CDC-approved assays conducted in specialized labs.
Nipah Virus Diagnosis
Nipah virus infection can typically be diagnosed using clinical evidence such as encephalitis or ARDS and laboratory tests, including real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on blood or other body samples including throat/nasal swabs, urine or cerebrospinal fluid samples taken from affected persons and samples from throat/nasal swabs taken during throat swabbing sessions; it also uses enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests to detect the presence of virus-specific antibodies present.
Nipah virus‘s primary reservoir are flying fox fruit bats; infections among humans during outbreaks in Malaysia and Singapore from 1998-1999 were mostly spread directly from bats through contact with their saliva, faeces or birthing fluid. Meanwhile in Bangladesh there have also been cases of human-to-human transmission; people becoming sick after coming in contact with respiratory or oral secretions of another infected person.
Nipah can incubate between 3-14 days in its incubation period, leaving victims feeling sick with fever, headache, cough, sore throat and difficulty breathing. Later they may develop encephalitis or ARDS with death in 40-75% of cases depending on its severity. Preventing Nipah means limiting exposure to infected animals such as flying fox bats and sick pigs in areas known for Nipah outbreaks as well as not eating raw date palm sap or fruit that might contain contamination from said infected animal as well as regularly washing hands when visiting those with symptoms, particularly after visiting people known for having Nipah illness.
Nipah Virus Treatment
Since Nipah virus’s discovery in 1999, outbreaks have occurred on pig farms and among people working with them. Nipah can be transmitted directly by coming into contact with infected pigs or bats as well as their bodily fluids (urine, saliva, feces and blood) as well as eating contaminated foods like fruit or raw date palm sap that contain it or through coughing/sneezing aerosols that spread it further.
Erythema multiforme (E. coli), commonly referred to as encephalitis, can be deadly for older people, babies, and those with weak immune systems. Unfortunately, early symptoms are vague and it’s difficult to diagnose; doctors may look for evidence of the virus in throat swabs, cerebrospinal fluid or urine samples taken prior or following recovery; an ELISA blood test can also detect any potential problems post recovery.
Nipah virus infection currently lacks a vaccine and treatment options are limited, with supportive care such as fluid replacement and symptom control being available as the only options available to us. Ribavirin may provide some assistance; experimental monoclonal antibody m102.4 showed promise in animal models of the disease. Researchers are testing other medications such as favipiravir and remdesivir which have shown antiviral properties against influenza as well as other RNA viruses.
Nipah Virus Prevention
Nipah can spread through bodily fluids – blood, saliva and urine – between infected people who are sick. Additionally, it can spread via nasal and respiratory droplets that come off coughs or sneezes of infected individuals, and person-to-person transmission has been the source of many outbreaks including one recently in Bangladesh.
Nipah virus infection increases with close contact between an infected individual and you, particularly during caregiving activities. You could also become exposed through eating food contaminated by infected animals – including raw date palm sap and fruit from infected date palm trees – as well as eating raw date palm sap that has been exposed. To stay safe, stay away from sick bats or pigs in areas known for transmission.
Bangladesh was recently hit with its most severe outbreak when people became infected after drinking raw date palm sap collected using open vessels, similar to how maple syrup is made in America. Bats had taken refuge in trees near where this sap was collected, leaving their urine and saliva behind to contaminate it further.
Avoiding trees where bats congregate and washing your hands regularly are two effective strategies for lowering the risk of infection. Be wary about eating fruits or drinking palm sap that has been contaminated with saliva from bats; alternatively, consider covering containers used to collect palm sap with covers, boiling it first before consumption.
I’m Pradeep Ahalawat, the founder and chief writer of this blog. (Holding the degree of M.Sc. IT with more than 15 years of expereince in IT sector) With a passion for storytelling and a keen interest in current affairs, I started this platform to share my perspectives.