2023-09-19 01:17:27
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Indian officials are making every effort to limit the spread of the disease.
Article informationAuthor, Ian Gallagher, BBC
2 hours ago
The state of Kerala, located in southern India, has strengthened medical examination measures in order to monitor cases of close contact with people infected with the “Nipah” virus, following the recent death of two people from the disease.
All cases were reported from Kozhikode district in northern Kerala.
This month witnessed one death due to the disease, while another death was reported on August 30.
The authorities decided to close schools and offices in the affected area of the state, while officials are making every effort to limit the spread of the disease.
The question is: What is the danger of the virus and what are its symptoms?
What is Nipah virus?
Nipah virus infection results from an “animal-source disease” that is transmitted to humans through animals such as pigs and fruit bats, according to the World Health Organization.
The disease can also be transmitted through contaminated food or through direct contact with an infected person.
Outbreaks of the disease occur almost annually in regions of Asia, especially in Bangladesh and India.
Consumption of fruits or fruit products (such as raw date palm juice) contaminated with the urine or saliva of infected fruit bats was previously a more likely source of infection.
The World Health Organization has included the “Nipah” virus, along with the “Ebola”, “Zika” and “Covid-19” viruses, on the list of many diseases that should receive priority in the field of scientific research due to their ability to cause a global epidemic.
This is the fourth outbreak of the Nipah virus in five years in the state of Kerala, as medical tests were previously conducted on bats in the state to monitor the disease.
What are the symptoms of the disease?
Incidence in humans varies from asymptomatic respiratory infection to acute respiratory infection (mild to severe) and fatal encephalitis (swelling of the brain).
Infected people often initially show symptoms, including fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and sore throat.
This may be followed by dizziness, drowsiness, altered level of consciousness, and neurological symptoms indicating acute encephalitis.
Some people will also likely suffer from atypical pneumonia and severe respiratory problems, including acute shortness of breath. Brain inflammation and seizures may occur in severe cases, progressing to coma within 24 to 48 hours.
It is believed that the incubation period of the virus (the period from infection to the appearance of symptoms) varies from 4 to 14 days. However, some have reported an incubation period of up to 45 days.
The Nipah virus leads to the death of up to 75 percent of those infected with it.
Is there a vaccine?
There is no vaccine or treatment for the disease yet, and treatment is limited to monitoring symptoms and providing the necessary care.
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This is the fourth Nipah virus outbreak in five years in Kerala
Facts regarding previous outbreaks?
The first outbreak of the Nipah virus led to the death of more than 100 people in Malaysia, which prompted the authorities at the time to cull one million pigs in an effort to contain the outbreak of the virus. The virus was named Nipah following the village where it was first discovered in 1999.
The disease also spread in Singapore, and 11 cases of infection were recorded, in addition to one death, among slaughterhouse workers who were dealing closely with pigs imported from Malaysia.
Bangladesh has borne the heaviest burden in recent years, with more than 100 people having died from the Nipah virus since 2001.
The disease is detected periodically in India, and this is the fourth outbreak in Kerala since 2018. The state was able to eliminate previous outbreaks within weeks by conducting widespread medical examinations and strict isolation measures for everyone found to have been in close contact with infected people.
The World Health Organization says that other regions at risk of infection include Cambodia, Ghana, Indonesia, Madagascar, the Philippines and Thailand, following monitoring evidence of the presence of the virus in bats living in these countries.
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