Critical Care Medicine | Posted on 11/29/2023 by Dr. Aparna Pande
In the year 1998, the Nipah virus was detected in Malaysia and Singapore which evolved as an ominous string, knitting its narrative of peril and enigma. It becomes increasingly important that we comprehend the subtleties of emerging viruses like the Nipah Virus as we navigate the spheres of global health. This virus belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family and can be transmitted from animals to humans, conjugated with its high mortality rate, locating it in the zone of zoonotic viruses. It is vital to be observant of symptoms like high fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, etc. to detect the problem.
If you suspect any of these and believe that you may have this disease, then book your appointment with one of the best multispeciality hospitals, CK Birla Hospitals in Jaipur. They have incorporated a team of healthcare professionals having the expertise and skills in their respective fields.
In this blog, we will embark on the journey of discussing the Nipah Virus, its outbreak, symptoms, precautions, treatment, facts, and myths related to it.
Please note that this is for informative purposes only and we do not promote overlooking the doctor’s consultation in any way.
Nipah Virus is a zoonotic virus also termed NiV that spreads between humans and animals. It spreads primarily through flying foxes also known as fruit bats. However, it is also transmissible through pigs and other animals such as cats, dogs, horses, and bats. The virus often transmits when:
One of the finest ways to prevent the Nipah virus is avoiding exposure to infected or sick animals, mainly in the transmission areas. It involves evading food products contaminated by an infected animal. It is also recommended to elude or take precautions while visiting or coming into contact with the infected person as it spreads from human to human via bodily fluids.
NiV disease leads to mild to serious symptoms that often involve brain infection and eventually death. No medicine or vaccine is there for the treatment of this disease. Management of the symptoms is the only approach to treat this virus.
Here are the initial symptoms of the Nipah virus:
Symptoms usually start within four to fourteen days after getting exposed to the virus. People experiencing this disease usually complain about high fever, headache, and respiratory issues like breathing problems.
In some cases, the patient can develop brain infection or encephalitis which is dangerous. Here are other symptoms of the Nipah Virus:
Nipah virus epidemics arise almost every year in most Asian parts, mainly in Bangladesh and India. When the virus was initially identified in 1998, it caused 100 fatalities in Singapore and Malaysia. It caused a huge economic influence in the countries due to which more than one million pigs were killed. There have been roughly twenty more outbreaks since 1999. The recent outbreak is the fourth in Kerala state since 2018, the sixth in India, and the third Nipah virus outbreak in the Kozhikode district of Kerala.
One of the primary causes of the Nipah virus is transmission through direct contact with infected animals like bats or their bodily fluids. It also involves fruit or juice consumption that is infected by bat urine or saliva. Here are other factors that contribute to the transmission of the Nipah Virus:
If you reside in or travel to a region where the Nipah virus is common, you must take the following precautions to avert getting infected:
There is no treatment or cure like antiviral medications to treat the Nipah Virus. The only way is the management of the symptoms which involves:
Here are some of the facts and myths related to the Nipah Virus:
The Nipah virus is a potentially fatal virus specifically infecting pigs and bats. Avoiding sick animals is the best way to fight against it, mainly in regions where outbreaks are usual. You must ensure staying away from people who have the virus unless you are using infection control procedures and appropriate precautions because it transmits from person to person. If you have recently traveled to an area where the Nipah virus is known to be active and you experience symptoms like fever, headache, or difficulty breathing, you should consult a healthcare provider.
The Nipah virus was first identified in the year 1998 in Malaysia and Singapore.
The Nipah virus spreads primarily through flying foxes also known as fruit bats via their bodily fluids. It is transmissible from human to human and humans get infected by coming into contact with an infected animal.
Nipah Virus is a zoonotic virus also termed NiV that spreads between humans and animals. It spreads primarily through flying foxes also known as fruit bats. When the virus was initially identified in 1998, it caused 100 fatalities in Singapore and Malaysia. It caused a huge economic influence in the countries due to which more than one million pigs were killed.
Yes, the Nipah virus is a life-threatening disease with no cure or treatment, only the symptoms can be managed.