All About the Nipah Virus that is causing ‘unnatural’ deaths in Kerala
What makes the Nipah virus unique and scary is that in the majority of the cases, the virus remains undetected and untraceable since it has no initial symptoms.
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The Kerala government on Wednesday announced that seven village panchayats in Kerala's Kozhikode, where two people died due to the Nipah virus, were declared as containment zones and strengthened measures to prevent the spread of the infection.
The move came after four Nipah cases were confirmed in four people, including a nine-year-old boy, in Kozhikode district, following which an alert was sounded by the state health ministry. Authorities shut down some schools and offices in the affected areas.
An official from Kerala's health ministry said over 130 people had been so far tested for the Nipah virus, which is transmitted to humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected bats, pigs or other people, Reuters reported.
Amid the Nipah alert, teams from the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, were scheduled to arrive in Kerala and set up a mobile lab at Kozhikode Medical College to conduct tests for Nipah and a survey of the bats, according to PTI.
First traces in India
The first-ever Nipah virus outbreak in south India was reported from Kozhikode and Malappuram districts in 2018.
About the virus
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic illness that is transmitted via animals to humans, and can also be transmitted via contaminated food or directly between people and is caused by fruit bats. The virus is not only fatal for humans, but for animals as well. The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers, WHO said.
What makes the Nipah virus unique and scary is that in the majority of the cases, the virus remains undetected and untraceable since it has no initial symptoms.
Symptoms and treatment of Nipah virus
Nipah virus is usually asymptomatic and can remain undetected in humans for several days after infection. In some cases, symptoms appear nearly two weeks after infection, with early signs including fever, headaches and respiratory issues like cold, cough and breathing difficulties.
Till now, there is no specific medication or vaccine for humans or animals to cure or prevent the Nipah virus. However, the virus can be treated by managing and taking medication for the symptoms in the early stages of infection.
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