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Nipah virus in India is on a rise in 2018. This article helps you to know about Nipah virus and its symptoms, prevention tips, precautions and vaccination treatment.
- What is Nipah Virus?
- Symptoms of Nipah Virus
- Transmission of Nipah Virus (Spreading of disease)
- Prevention of Nipah Virus
- Treatment for Nipah Virus
- 5 unknown facts of Nipah Virus
What is Nipah virus?
Nipah virus is a newly emerging zoonosis that causes severe complications in both humans and animals alike. It has a high fatality rate and transmits mainly through bats, pigs, and other animals. Hence, people infected by Nipah virus should be treated with intensive supportive care.
Symptoms of Nipah Virus:
In humans, Nipah virus causes asymptomatic infection. Usually, the symptoms of this infection are visible from 5 to 14 days after being exposed to the virus.
The signs and symptoms of Nipah virus infection include:
- Fever
- A headache
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Drowsiness
- Disorientation
- Mental confusion
- Coma
- Respiratory illness during the initial stages of infection
- Symptoms of epilepsy in some people
Transmission of Nipah Virus:
How does it spread?
Nipah virus infection is a contagious disease and yes it spreads among living beings. The main carriers of Nipah virus are fruit bats, from which the virus can be transmitted to humans and other animals.
Transmission of the Nipah virus occurs when
- Humans consume fruits bitten by bats
- Humans get into direct contact with infected bats, infected pigs or infected people
- Humans come into contact with body fluids of animals or people infected with the virus
Prevention of Nipah Virus:
Since Nipah virus infection is contagious, one should follow standard infection control practices to minimize the chances of virus transmission. The important precautionary measures include:
- Do not eat fruits that have fallen on the ground
- Avoid the consumption of contaminated food
- Avoid direct contact with infected people
- Wash hands properly after contacting infected persons
- Wear mask and gloves while handling patients
- Stay away from areas where the infection is widespread
Treatment for Nipah Virus:
It is unfortunate that there is no specific treatment or a vaccine for humans or animals affected by Nipah virus. But the primary treatment for Nipah virus is intensive supportive care.
Citations:
- Nipah Virus (NiV) Infection, from http://www.who.int/csr/disease/nipah/en/
- Henipavirus, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henipavirus
- Nipah Virus (NiV), from https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/nipah/transmission/index.html
- Nipah Virus, from https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/nipah-virus-2329-9088.1000129.php?aid=16706
- Working safely with Nipah virus, from http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/AC449E/ac449e05.htm