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Nipah Virus in Kerala again: Why this is an alarming situation

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DailyBiteJun 06, 2019 | 13:17

Nipah Virus in Kerala again: Why this is an alarming situation

A 23-year-old college student in Kerala's Ernakulam has tested positive for the deadly Nipah virus, which killed 17 people in the state last year. What is this virus and why is it so dangerous?

What are Nipah symptoms?

Some symptoms of the Nipah virus include fever, drowsiness, headaches, disorientation and inflammation of the brain (also termed encephalitis). As all but the last are common ailments, a danger lies in trying home remedies and not getting expert medical care in time. Medical examination upon any of these symptoms is immediately recommended. There are some cases where the virus has also caused severe respiratory infections, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

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As such, there is no way yet to understand exactly how this virus spreads from one person to another. The virus, which takes between 6 to over 20 days to incubate and reportedly has a 40%-70% fatality rate, is particularly dangerous as it can infect people without instantly causing visible symptoms as well — it is impossible to know how often that happens.

When was Nipah first detected?

This virus was first reported in 1998, when an outbreak in Malaysia came to be known. The virus is in fact named after a village in Malaysia called Sungai Nipah.

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The virus travels via different routes from fruit bat habitations to humans. (Photo: India Today)

How does Nipah start?

The Nipah virus resides in fruit bats which are commonly found across South and Southeast Asia, and this virus can spread to human beings through contact with the animal's bodily fluids.

Till date, there is no vaccine for it.

How does it spread?

It spreads through close contact with animal and human secretions and excretions. As urbanisation extends, the danger of this only grows. The Nipah virus is particularly virulent as it spreads as a 'cluster illness', spreading rapidly within groups. In 2001, in Siliguri, the transmission of the virus was reported to have spread to over 33 infected persons, all within a healthcare setting, where 75% cases occurred only among hospital staff and/or visitors.

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Why fruit bats?

Fruit bats are found to be the main carriers of the Nipah virus — the virus is present in bat urine and potentially, bat faeces, saliva and birthing fluids, the germs therein easily spreading to the human world. 

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Fruit bats originally carry the virus. Being in the human world through trees and other animals, it can spread thus. (Photo: India Today)

Different carriers

When this virus was first detected in Malaysia, it occured repeatedly with pig farmers who had caught it through their own pigs. One analysis said as pigs could have come in contact with fruit bats and/or fruit infected by them, the virus spread accordingly.

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Deadly impact: In Malaysia, the virus spread through pigs. (Photo: Reuters)

In India, the Nipah case was different — people, particularly in Kerala, harvest date palm sap as a drink. It is likely that human contact with virus carriers occurred in this process. This is also a source of grave danger, the date palm industry being immense down south and workers often unable to avoid contact with infection thereby. 

Nipah vaccine

As mentioned, as of now, there is no vacccine available for this. Experts around the world have been working on medicine which could help control the spread of this virus.

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Underway: Health officials around the world are working on making a vaccine for Nipah. (Photo: PTI)

The 'Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations' has even announced an award of $25 million to develop a vaccine against Nipah virus. This is expected in another five years.

Tracking Nipah victims

In addition to battling sudden and severe cases of Nipah symptoms in any location, the authorities also need to keep a tab on the number of people who are moving in and outside towns and locations where this virus has spread. If a person who is infected by this disease happens to leave the country and travels abroad, there is a marked danger for another country being infected by the virus.

Last updated: June 06, 2019 | 13:17
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