NIPAH VIRUS INFECTION

NIPAH VIRUS INFECTION 

According to the World Health Organisation ,Nipah virus or NiV infection is a newly emerging zoonosis that cause severe disease in both animals and human beings .The natural host of the virus are fruit bats of the Pteropodidae Family ,Pteropus genus.
Niv first identified in 1998 during an outbreak in Malaysia.There is no vaccine for either humans or animals.The primary treatment for human cases is intensive medical care.

Nipah scare in Indian subcontinent
2001:
Siliguri(West Bengal,India)
Affected-66
Dead-45

2007:
Nadia (West Bengal)
Affected-56
Dead-50

Symptoms

• High fever
• Head ache                                     
• Muscle pain 
• Sore throat
• Breathing trouble
• Mental confusion
• Drowsiness
• Vomiting
• Neck rigidity
• photophobia
• Fainting
• Encephalitis
• Brain inflammation
• Symptoms may last for 10-12 days
• Then the infected may fall unconscious.Death may happen as brain fever develops at the final stage.

How does it spread

• From fruit bats to animals through bites
• From animals  to other animals through fluids
• From bats to humans (if one takes fruits bitten by bats)
• From animals to humans through body fluids
• From humans to humans through body fluids

                 

How to prevent

• Do not eat fruits bitten by bats or animals.
• Avoid contact with pigs and pig handlers.
• Do not mingle closely with domestic animals.
• Wash hands properly with soap after contacting infected person.
• Wear N95 mask and gloves while tending to patients.
• Wash fruits and vegetables carefully
• Use boiled water.
• Avoid water collected from area where bats are found in large numbers.
• Avoid traveling to the affected area.
• Be aware of the symptoms and report to the doctor immediately for early diagnosis and treatment.

Diagnosis

NiV infection can be diagnosed together with clinical history during the acute and chronic phase of the disease. Main tests including real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from bodily fluids like cerebrospinal fluid,urine ,sputum and blood as well as antibody detection via ELISA.  Different tests include:

• enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
• polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay
• virus isolation by cell culture.

Treatment

There are currently no drugs or vaccines specific for NiV infection.Intensive supportive care is recommended to treat severe respiratory and neurologic complications.