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Nipah Virus Outbreak
News:
- The recent outbreak of Nipah Virus infection in Kerala
Important Facts:
- Nipah Virus is a contagious and deadly virus which was first identified in Malaysia in 1999
- The virus figures in the WHO’s list of 10 priority pathogens needing urgent research
- The virus is an RNA (ribonucleic acid) virus and mutates very fast
- The death rate from the Nipah virus is estimated to be about 70%.
- Symptoms: encephalitis, brain inflammation, disorientation, after-effects such as convulsions
- The natural host of the virus is fruit bats
- According to a WHO report, a major cause of the outbreak of bat-related viral infections is the loss of bat’s natural habitats. Loss of natural habitats forces bats to move near urban areas.
- According to a study in Malaysia, rapid urbanization leading to the destruction of bat-rich rainforests contributed to the outbreak of Nipah virus
- Nipah virus infection generally has a stuttering chain of transmission- Once the virus moves from bats to humans; it generally spreads to people in close contact with the patients
8. During 2007 outbreak in Nadia, West Bengal, after the first patient got infected, the virus generally spread among close contacts and caregivers. A similar pattern is observed in the current outbreak.
9. This highlights the fact the spread of the virus can be restricted by taking preventive measures. Proper infection control should be practised.
10. Important preventive measures for hospital staff include using masks, a strict hand wash routine.
