India reports 2 cases of Nipah virus. What is infection and how is it spread
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Two cases of The deadly Nipah virus in India has prompted authorities in Thailand and Malaysia to tighten airport screening to prevent the spread of the virus.
But what is Nipah virus, and how worried should people be? Here are some answers.
India’s Health Ministry said on Tuesday that two cases of Nipah had been detected since December and that all identified contacts were being quarantined and tested. The department did not release information about the patients, but said that 196 people were contacted and all of them found that they did not have it.
“The situation is being closely monitored, and all necessary public health measures are in place,” the department said.
There have been no reported cases of the virus outside of India, but several Asian countries have relaxed or tightened screening measures at airports as a precaution.
What is Nipah virus?
Nipah is a rare viral disease that spreads widely from infected animals, especially fruit bats, to humans. It can be asyIt is asymptomatic but often fatal, with a mortality rate of 40 to 75 percent, depending on the capacity of the local health care system for detection and management, says the World Health Organization.
However, although it can spread from person to person, it doesn’t do this easily, and outbreaks are usually small and reasonably contained, according to experts and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control. Vaccines for selected populations are still being developed, although they are not yet approved.
How common is it?
Nipah was the first they were discovered in Malaysia in 1999. Since then, there have been small outbreaks almost every year, mostly in Bangladesh. India also sees outbreaks from time to time.
According to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, a group that tracks emerging disease threats and funds the development of medical tools to protect against them, since December, a total of 750 cases have been recorded, and 415 patients have died.
How is it spread?
When it is first pointed to In Malaysia, Nipah spread widelygely by direct contact with sick pigs or contaminated tissues. Since then, it has often spread through contact with what scientists say is its natural host: fruit bats.
In particular, consumption of fruit or fruit products – such as green palm juice – containing urine or saliva from infected fruit bats has been the most likely source of infection, WHO said. Person-to-person transmission has been found, especially after close contact between the sick patient and his family or caregivers.
What are the symptoms?
The first signoms from Nipa, they are not like fever, headache and muscle pain, it is not specific and can be confused with other diseases. This can be followed by neurological symptoms indicative of acute encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, and some people develop severe breathing problems.
Ten people have died there after contracting the Nipah virus, a disease thought to be spread by fruit bats and other animals.
Seizures occur in severe cases, progressing to coma within days. Most people who get better make a full recovery, but some develop long-term neurological problems.
How concerned should we be?
While Nipah is adThe raging disease, which has a high death rate, has shown no signs of being highly contagious to humans or spreading easily around the world, scientists say.
However, it is still a major public health problem, according to the WHO, especially in countries where outbreaks are more common. It can also lead to the killing of farm animals, such as pigs, that become infected.
Scientists say it is unlikely to spread globally – but also point out that airport screening may be ineffective as the virus has a long incubation period.
What vaccines or medications are available?
There are currently none approved vaccines or treatments for Nipah, although a number of candidates are being tested, including those developed by Oxford University scientists are involved in developing one of the vaccines for COVID-19.
Thwe are vaccinated against eir Nipahis a similar technology, and began a Phase 2 trial in Bangladesh in December in collaboration with the International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh, and with funding from the Coalition for Emergency Preparedness Innovations.
