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Two issues Killer Nipah virus in India Authorities in Thailand and Malaysia have called for increased airport screening to prevent the spread of the infection.
But Nipah noirus, and how worried should people be? Here are some answers.
India’s health ministry said on Tuesday that two cases of Nipah have been detected since December and all identified contacts have been identified and investigated. The ministry did not provide details of the patients but said 196 contacts had been found and all had been confirmed.
“The situation is under constant monitoring and all necessary public health measures are in place,” the minister said.
There have been no confirmed cases of the virus outside India, but several Asian countries have introduced or strengthened screening measures at airports as a precaution.
What is Nipah virus?
Nipah is a rare viral infection that is transmitted to humans mostly from infected animals, especially fruit bats. can be asy.mptomatic but often very dangerous, from a Case fatality rate From 40 to 75 percent, depending on the capacity of the local health care system to detect and manage, according to the World Health Organization.
But while it can be transmitted from person to person, it doesn’t do so easily, and outbreaks are usually small and fairly contained, experts say. European Center for Disease Prevention and Control. Although not yet approved, candidate vaccines are under development.
How common is it?
Nipah was the beginning. It was identified in Malaysia in 1999. Since then, small outbreaks have occurred almost every year, mostly in Bangladesh. India also sees occasional epidemics.
According to the Coalition for Disease Preparedness Innovations, which monitors disease threats and provides financial support for the development of medical equipment, a total of 750 cases and 415 deaths have been reported as of December.
How does it spread?
When it was first noticed in Malaysia, Nipah spreadJelly in direct contact with sick pigs or infected tissues. Since then, it has spread widely through contact with what scientists call its natural host: fruit bats.
In particular, consumption of fruit or fruit products – such as raw date juice – that contain urine or saliva from infected fruit bats is a high-risk source of infection, according to the World Health Organization. Person-to-person spread occurs primarily after close contact between an infected patient and their family or caregiver.
What are the symptoms?
First signoms of Nipah, as Like fever, headache and muscle pain, they are not specific and can be confused with other diseases. These can then lead to neurological symptoms that indicate acute encephalitis or brain inflammation, and some people experience severe respiratory problems.
Ten people have died after contracting the Nipah virus, which is believed to be transmitted by fruit bats and other animals.
Seizures occur in severe cases, progressing to coma within days. Most people recover completely, but some have long-term neurological problems.
How concerned should we be?
mile Nipah is ad.The raging disease, which has a high fatality rate, has yet to show signs of becoming more transmissible between humans or simply spreading around the world, scientists say.
However, according to the World Health Organization, it remains a major public health concern, especially in countries where epidemics are common. It can also lead to the mass destruction of livestock such as pigs that are vulnerable to the virus.
Scientists say it’s unlikely to spread globally – but the virus has a long incubation period, so airport screening may not yield results.
What vaccines or treatments are available?
There are currently no approved Vaccines or treatments for Nipah, although several candidates are under investigation; including one It was built by Oxford University scientists have been involved in developing one of the COVID-19 vaccines.
TIr Nipah KtaktlnIt’s the same technology, and in December it began a phase 2 trial in Bangladesh with funding from the International Diarrhea Research, Bangladesh Partnership and the Emergency Preparedness Innovations Consortium.