Nipah Virus: Another Deadly Outbreak In India

Nipah Virus: Another Deadly Outbreak in India

The Nipah virus, stemming from bats, poses health risks to humans through intermediary hosts. It stealthily lurks from wilderness to civilisations, demanding pre-informedness about zoonotic diseases and strategies to prevent their spread in society.

By Topperlearning Expert 25th Sep, 2023 | 08:30 pm

In recent times, the Nipah virus has reemerged as a significant health concern globally. Although this deadly pathogen is not a new thing, its past outbreaks can be traced back to 1999! It is reported to have resurfaced, posing new deadly challenges to humans lately. This blog will delve into the details of the Nipah virus history as well as recent re-emergence, digging into its transmission, symptoms, and urgent efforts to curb its spread.

What is the Nipah Virus?preventing Nipah virus infections comes down to avoiding any exposure

The Nipah virus is a species that comes from the Paramyxoviridae family. The Nipah is a zoonotic pathogen (transmitted from animals to humans or from humans to humans). Fruit bats are the originators and natural hosts that bear the virus without displaying symptoms.

Direct contact with contaminated body fluids and consumption of contaminated date palm sap or fruits can lead to transmission. They spread from one human to another and other animals. The Nipah virus is a highly fatal virus that has the potential to spread rapidly and is a major public health concern.

How is the Nipah Virus Transmitted?

The Nipah virus transmission ensues in many ways, including:

1. Animal-to-Human Transmission:

In this type of transmission, there is direct contact with infected animals, particularly pigs and horses. Also, the consumption of virus-tainted animal products.

2. Human-to-Human Transmission:

Such a transmission is due to close contact with an infected person’s body fluids, like respiratory droplets, sweat, or saliva. It can also happen in healthcare settings, where secondary infections are reported. Notable incidents of transmission include that which occurs in hospitals and among relatives taking care of affected people.

What Are the Symptoms of Nipah Virus Infection?

Nipah virus infection offers a range of different symptoms that may vary from mild to strong. Early symptoms include the following:

Fever
Headache
Respiratory issues similar to influenza-like symptoms

In severe cases, the symptoms might progress to encephalitis. The signs are often fatal, including the following:

Altered consciousness
Seizures
Neurological complications

Medical professionals and family members must identify and isolate individuals quickly after noticing and diagnosing symptoms to stop additional transmission and potentially fatal consequences.

Is There a Cure for the Nipah Virus?

The Nipah virus problem is still lacking in a specific treatment or vaccine. The lack of a specific therapy creates serious management difficulties. Healthcare professionals concentrate largely on giving supportive care to diseased people. Some examples of supportive care might include the following:

Maintaining hydration
Controlling pain
Regulating temperature
Addressing problems with respiration
Providing ICU or mechanical ventilation facilities (for severe cases)

This lack of a specific treatment stresses the value of early detection and prevention. Although research continues to look at potential cures along with vaccinations for this lethal virus, the best method for preventing Nipah virus infections comes down to avoiding any exposure.

Where Has the Nipah Virus Outbreak Occurred?

Some earlier Nipah virus outbreaks are registered in various regions, with marked happenings in Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia, Bangladesh, and India. A serious outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia occurred in 1999, and several people died as a result. Outbreaks followed in Bangladesh in 2001. Since then, outbreaks have occurred in Bangladesh almost annually.

Periodically, the disease has also been found in eastern India. A Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala's Kozhikode and Malappuram districts in 2018 resulted in numerous fatalities and widespread fear. Following a case in Kozhikode in 2021, the ongoing danger posed by this lethal virus prompted immediate public health measures.

Recently, the Kerala government has been on high alert as two Nipah virus infection deaths were reported at a private hospital in Kozhikode. The first one happened on 30th August 2023, while the second one happened on 11th September 2023.

Measures to Prevent the Spread of the Nipah Virus

The government, healthcare sectors, and the general public need to work in coordination to deal with eradication.

The preventive measures for different sectors can be as follows:

Government Level: The government executes surveillance systems that help to monitor outbreaks and potential cases. There has to be a coordination of response efforts, too.

Healthcare Level: Healthcare facilities are required to practice strict infection control measures. The infected individuals are isolated along with the provision of necessary care.

General Awareness: Campaigns must be launched to educate the public about risk factors. These should emphasise avoiding close contact with potentially diseased animals or humans along with raw date palm sap.

Rapid Response: Mechanisms that are essential in containing outbreaks include contact tracking and quarantine.

Conclusion

In summary, the Nipah virus, which originated in bats and can pass from animal to human and from human to human, poses a serious threat to world health. Despite the lack of a specific cure or vaccination, early identification is important, along with supported care for affected people. Previous outbreaks in Kerala highlighted the horrendous situation. Our best defences against this lethal infection are alertness, preventive actions, and coordinated reactions.

Students can learn more about diseases, their transmission, and prevention on TopperLearning. These foundational insights are crucial for addressing concept-related queries in examinations and beyond.

FAQ's About Nipah Virus

Q 1. How fatal is the Nipah virus for humans?

Ans: It is a deadly virus for humans. According to the Economic Times, the fatality rate ranges from 40% to 75%. There is full recovery of the most acute encephalitis patients, but in some cases, they tend to develop long-term neurologic problems.

Q 2. What are the main tests used to detect Nipah virus infection?

Ans: Although there is not any specific test exclusive to the Nipah virus detection, there are two tests used to detect it.1. RT-PCR - Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction using bodily fluids2. ELISA - Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay for antibody detection.

Q 3. What are Hospital Infection Control Policies ensued by the NCDC, India?

Ans: The Hospital Infection Control Policies needed to be practised and monitored by the Hospital Infection Control Committee (HICC) and Hospital Infection Control Team (HICT) ensued by the NCDC, India are as follows: