The past few years have been unsettling, with the emergence of new diseases and viruses that were once unfamiliar, now becoming part of our everyday reality. Among these threats is the Nipah virus, a deadly pathogen that has recently resurfaced, causing widespread concern. The tragic death of a 14-year-old boy in Kerala1 has once again brought this dangerous virus into the spotlight, reminding us of the ongoing battle against emerging infectious diseases.
Understanding the virus can help us in its prevention and also reduce the risk of infection in our communities. Read on as we discuss the Nipah virus, how it gets transmitted, and its symptoms. Let’s begin!
What the Nipah Virus is?
It is a virus carried by flying foxes/fruit bats, ppeared for the first time in 1998, showing a high fatality rate that raised serious concerns amongst health professionals.
You might be wondering what causes the Nipah virus.
It is a zoonotic virus that primarily stems from animals and transmits into humans through contaminated food or water.
Nipah Virus affects animals at a large scale, especially pigs, and it gets transmitted to humans mainly through:
- Consuming food or water that has been contaminated by infected animals
- Any form of contact with an infected animal
- Contact with an infected human being
What are the Symptoms of Nipah Virus?
Since the virus can cause severe illness, it is important to identify the signs and symptoms at an initial stage. The initial signs of the Nipah Virus include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Cough and sore throat
- Breathing difficulties.
Remember that the signs of Nipah Virus begin to show within 4 days to 14 days of being exposed to the virus. 2 Mild fever, headache, and vomiting are early signs of Nipah Virus, and an affected person can face breathing difficulties later on.
Additionally, a person severely affected by the virus might face other problems like:
- Slurring Speech
- Seizures
- Respiratory Distress.
Transmission of Nipah Virus
The first appearance of the Nipah Virus in Malaysia eventually passed onto Singapore as well, transmitting to humans stemming from contact with infected animals. It was found that even direct contact with the tissue of an infected animal caused the spread of the Nipah Virus.
Apart from animal-to-human transmission, Nipah Virus can also be transmitted from one infected human to another. In fact, during the initial years of Nipah Virus outbreaks in India and Bangladesh, human-to-human transmission was the highest.
Nipah Virus: Past Outbreaks
The first outbreak of the Nipah Virus was marked in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998 and 1999, respectively. A family of pig farmers in Malaysia were the first ones to get infected by the virus. 3
Since then, the virus has greatly affected Southeast Asian wildlife and humans, particularly in India and Bangladesh.
Prevention of Nipah Virus
After knowing what is Nipah virus disease, the next question arises is how to prevent it. Sadly, there is no vaccine to create a shield against the virus which is possibly the biggest reason for a scare amongst the health experts. However, by following basic hygiene and tips mentioned below
you can reduce the chances of getting exposed to the virus:
Reducing the Risk of Transmission
In most cases, the virus stems from bats, making it important to eliminate the exposure of food and water to bats. Pig farms should be established only when there is a report of the area being cleared of fruit bats to reduce the chances of virus attacks on pigs. Additionally, in areas that have faced a recent outbreak, considerations must be kept in mind while consuming farm meat.
Better Health Care Facilities
Healthcare facilities treating infected humans must operate in isolation and with proper care. Samples must be handled by trained staff and enhancements in airborne precautions in severe cases be made mandatory.
Nipah Virus Situation in India
Nipah Virus is a major health concern for health experts in India as there have been several outbreaks in the country since the first appearance in 2001. 4
Here’s when the virus has penetrated in India:
- The first outbreak in India was in 2001 in Kerala.
- Since 2001, India has faced 6 Nipah Virus outbreaks.
- Kerala found itself battling the outbreak again in September 2023. A suspected case of virus was sent for test on 9th September 2023 and by 15th September, the Ministry of Health confirmed 6 cases of Nipah Virus infection. This included two deaths due to the virus in Kozhikode, Kerala.
- The 2023 outbreak raised serious concerns as apart from the first case, all other cases were family and hospital contacts of the first case, reflecting the strong communicable nature of the virus.
However, the 2023 Nipah Virus attack in India has gotten the national and state authorities to focus on coordination for better laboratory testing, health facility preparedness and guidelines for infection prevention and control.
Summing up
The Nipah Virus has been deadly in many senses, with a fatality rate of 40% to 75%.6 In the absence of a vaccine against the virus, the least we can do is keep ourselves aware and protected against the virus attack by making a few lifestyle changes.
Additionally, a health insurance plan along with smartly chosen add-ons, can help deal with the situation better. Among our multiple plans, Care Advantage is a reliable option as it offers a high sum insured, up to ₹6 crores; making it the right option for one who is looking for comprehensive coverage. The plan is designed to create a one-stop solution for large and small families. There are several other plan options and add-ons that allow you to ensure comprehensive coverage for yourself and your loved ones. Choose the right one today!
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj50d7e9vp6o
https://www.woah.org/en/disease/nipah-virus/
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj50d7e9vp6o.amp
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7088631/
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