Alarm bells have been rung in Kerala’s Kozhikode, as two patients of the ‘Nipah virus’ succumbed to their illness earlier today. The deaths are being labelled ‘unnatural,’ and have incited panic and fear in Kerala as this virus has been wreaking havoc every year since it first broke onto the scene in 1999.
The Centre For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) informed that this deadly virus spreads from person to person and has the potential to cause a global pandemic. To understand the Nipah virus and raise awareness about its symptoms and preventive measures, the team of OnlyMyHealth spoke to Dr J Anish Anand, Consultant Internal Medicine, Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills.
Understanding The Nipah Virus
“Nipah virus (NiV) is a type of zoonotic virus that can cause illness in humans and animals. The natural hosts of this virus are fruit bats, but it can also be transmitted to pigs and people,” informed Dr Anand. He continued, “The reason why this virus has incited such fear in the medical community and the masses alike, is because the fatality rate for NiV infection ranges between 40% to 75%, which is an extremely high number. Moreover, there is no specific treatment for NiV infection. This means that the focus is on managing the symptoms and providing supportive care, such as fluids, electrolytes, and oxygen.”
Also Read: Nipah Virus And COVID-19: Is There A Connection? Know Symptoms, Cause, Diagnosis & Treatment
The Nipah virus is so deadly and immensely feared, that during its first outbreak, NiV resulted in nearly 300 human cases and more than 100 deaths, as a consequence of which more than 1 million pigs were killed to help control the outbreak. It's a shocking but true fact that was shared by the CDC.
Symptoms Of NiV
Distressingly, there are no vaccines or any other medically approved preventive measures available against the Nipah virus. Hence, the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggested, “The only way to reduce or prevent infection in people is by raising awareness of the risk factors and educating people about the measures they can take to reduce exposure to the Nipah virus.”
Supporting this suggestion, Dr Anand listed a set of symptoms that everyone should watch out for especially during the winter and spring months, as the Nipah virus has been reported to spread the most during this time in the past few years:
- Fever
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Muscle aches
- Confusion
- Encephalitis (swelling of the brain)
- Seizures
- Coma
Tips To Be Safe From Nipah Virus
Dr Anand shared that the Nipah virus spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets, saliva, and contact with contaminated surfaces. Hence it is essential to practice COVID equivalent preventive measures like wearing a mask, using a sanitiser, and social distancing, especially if you detect a sick person in your vicinity.
Also Read: Fruit bats may not be the cause of Nipah Virus: Research
“The best way to prevent NiV infection is to avoid contact with fruit bats and their saliva or urine. People who work with pigs or in areas where Nipah virus infection is known to occur should also take precautions to avoid exposure. These precautions include wearing protective clothing and washing hands frequently,” relayed Dr Anand.
However, another concerning thing about the Nipah virus is that its incubation period is typically four to 14 days, and can also range from two to 45 days. That means you could be carrying this virus and spreading it around for 45 days without any symptoms emerging. This fact shared by Dr Anand further fuels the necessity of why we should wear masks when out in public, even if the COVID wave is eradicated.
Providing a ray of hope, the WHO has shared that they have identified Nipah as a priority disease for the WHO Research and Development Blueprint. So the possibility of effective vaccines and proactive development of treatment measures are on the horizon. Dr Anand urged that if you think you may have been exposed to NiV it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment are your only ticket to the possibility of survival. WHO also recommended that public health authorities must make efforts to educate the masses to wash fruits thoroughly before eating as they may have been infected by fruit bats.
