India is rapidly acting to prevent the outbreak of the Nipah virus in eastern West Bengal after five confirmed cases, including doctors and nurses, were infected.
Nearly 100 people have been required to be isolated at home and infected patients are being treated at hospitals in and around the capital Kolkata, according to local media reports, with one patient in critical condition.
Nipah is a deadly virus that does not have a vaccine or treatment method and is considered a high-risk pathogen by the World Health Organization. Experts say human infections are very rare and often occur when the virus spreads through bats, often through polluted fruits.
Symptoms are not specific, difficult to detect early
Nipah virus (NiV) infections often begin with anorexic symptoms, making early detection difficult.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the incubation period is usually thought to range from four to 21 days, although longer delays between exposure and disease have been reported in some rare cases in previous outbreaks.
Patients often develop a sudden flu-like disease marked by fever, headache, muscle pain, and fatigue. In some cases, respiratory symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, or pneumonia also occur, although the duration and severity of these symptoms may vary greatly.
The most serious and identified complication of Nipah's infection is encephalitis, called encephalitis. Neurotic symptoms, including confusion, changes in consciousness, convulsions, or coma, usually appear several days to weeks after the onset of the initial illness.
Some patients may also have meningitis.
How does the Nipah virus cause death?
The Nipah virus is associated with a high mortality rate, with a reported mortality rate of 40 to 75% depending on the outbreak and related virus strain.
Survivors may suffer long-term neurological effects, such as persistent seizures or personality changes, according to a UK Health Security Agency update.
In some rare cases, encephalitis has been reported to recur several months or even years after the initial infection, due to recurrence or reactivation of the virus.
How the Nipah virus spreads:
The Nipah virus is a pathogen transmitted from animals to humans and from humans to humans, according to the World Health Organization.
Naturally pathogenic organisms are fruit bats (Pteropus species); humans can be infected when they come into direct contact with infected bats or other animals, or by consuming food contaminated with saliva, urine or bat feces.
Human-to-human transmission has also been reported, especially through close contact with body fluids of infected people.
Treatment method
There is currently no targeted treatment, which has been proven for Nipah virus (NiV) infection, and no vaccine has been approved to prevent it.
Patient care is mostly supportive, focusing on controlling symptoms and complications when they arise.
The virus is listed by WHO as a priority pathogen in the Detailed Plan for Research and Development, identifying disease threats that need urgent research.
Reduce the risk of Nipah infection
Without vaccines, preventing Nipah virus infection depends on awareness and simple protective measures, global health agencies recommend.
Public health advice focuses on reducing exposure to the virus, whether from bats, animals or people infected.
Preventing transmission from bats to humans
Bats are the main carrier of Nipah's pathogens. People should avoid consuming raw dates or fruits that may have been contaminated by bats, WHO guidelines recommend.
Boiling fresh dates and washing thoroughly or peeling fruit can reduce the risk.
Any fruit that shows signs of being bitten by bats should be removed.
Preventing animal-to-human transmission
People who treat sick animals, their tissues, or during slaughter should wear gloves and protective clothing.
It is necessary to minimize exposure to infected pigs and pig farms in areas with fruit bats should take steps to protect food and barns from bats.
Preventing human-to-human transmission
Avoid close, unprotected contact with people infected with Nipah. Washing your hands regularly after caring for or visiting patients is essential to prevent the virus from spreading.
