The Nipah virus is causing fear in India. Local media reports the death of a 14-year-old boy who died from infection with the dangerous pathogen. It has already attacked five times in the region, the Times of India reported. Authorities are currently looking for people who may have had contact with the deceased teenager. The WHO reported that the virus causes death in almost 75 percent of those infected.
Nipah virus is a zoonotic pathogen that spreads from animals to humans. Its most common reservoirs are bats and pigs. The virus was first discovered in Malaysia in 1998 and has since been identified in Bangladesh, India, and Singapore. It can cause severe encephalitis, which is often fatal.
The main routes of Nipah virus infection in humans are:
- direct contact with infected animals or their secretions (e.g. saliva, urine)
- consumption of fruit contaminated with the excretions of infected bats
- close contact with infected people
Symptoms of Nipah virus infection can range from asymptomatic to mild to severe. Typical symptoms include:
- fever
- headaches
- muscle aches
- sore throat
- vomiting
There is currently no vaccine available against Nipah virus. Treatment is primarily symptomatic and supportive, and rapid detection and isolation of infected individuals is essential to prevent further spread of the virus.
