What is Nipah Virus: Meaning, Transmission and How to Prevent

The Nipah virus was first discovered after an outbreak in Malaysia and Singapore in 1999. There were more than 300 human cases, in which nearly 100 of them died. The government back then killed about 1 million pigs to bring the situation under control.

In this article, we have highlighted some of the important points that one should know to safeguard oneself from getting infected by the Nipah virus.

What is Nipah Virus Infection?

Nipah virus is basically a zoonotic virus that spreads among animals and humans. The main sources of the Nipah virus are pigs, flying foxes and fruit bats. However, it can also spread through other animals, such as goats, horses, or dogs. The best way to prevent it is to avoid contact with sick animals.

Travelling to countries like Bangladesh and India requires extra precautions as they are prone to Nipah virus outbreaks.

How is Nipah Virus Transmitted?

The Nipah virus is transmitted from one person to another through the following ways:

Direct contamination with the infected body fluids of the animals, such as blood, urine, and saliva.
Consumption of food that has been contaminated with the body fluids of the infected animals.
As the Nipah virus spreads through droplets, very close contact with the infected person can also transmit the Nipah virus to a healthy person. Apart from this, the blood and urine of the infected person also transmit the infection.

What are the Symptoms of Nipah Virus?

Nipah virus infection can present mild or severe symptoms that might cause the patient's death. The incubation period lies between 4-14 days. Some of the common clinical manifestations are:

Respiratory Distress
Cough
Sore throat
Vomiting
Fever
Headache

If not treated properly, severe symptoms may develop, which might progress to coma within the next 2 days. Some of the severe symptoms are:

Disorientation and confusion
Seizures
Brain swelling or Encephalitis
Coma

Once the severe symptoms start to occur, death happens in 40%-75% of the cases. Survivors have also reported long-term side effects, including personality changes and convulsions.

What are the Causes of Nipah Virus?

Nipah virus infection is mainly caused by direct contact with infected pigs, flying foxes or fruit bats; this is how an outbreak usually occurs in a particular area.
Another way to get the disease is to consume certain foods that are contaminated with bat faeces.
Lastly, it spreads among humans due to close contact with their family members or healthcare workers.

Who is at Risk of Getting Nipah Virus Infection?

The risk factors for Nipah virus infection are listed below:

Animal farm workers who live near the pigs.
People who consume raw fruits or fruit products such as raw date palm sap.
Healthcare workers caring for the Nipah virus-infected patients.

How is Nipah Virus Diagnosed?

This virus mainly gets detected during the illness or post-recovery through different tests such as:

RT-PCR: Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction is done during the early stages of the illness using throat or nasal swabs. However, samples from CSF (cerebrospinal fluid), urine, or blood can also be taken.
ELISA: Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay is done post-recovery to detect antibodies in our body against the Nipah virus.

Early diagnosis of Nipah virus is a bit challenging because the symptoms are non-specific. However, early diagnosis is very important as it increases the infected person's survival rate and prevents transmission. More care should be taken in areas that are more prone to Nipah virus infection, such as India or Bangladesh.

How is Nipah Virus Treated?

As for now, there are no licensed antiviral drugs that can be used to treat Nipah virus infection. However, the treatment is only to relieve and manage the symptoms, which include:

Keep yourself hydrated by drinking a lot of water.
Take an adequate amount of rest.
If your body experiences any kind of pain, you might turn to OTC drugs such as Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen.
Nausea and vomiting can be managed by antiemetic drugs such as ondansetron.
If you experience breathing difficulties, inhalers or nebulisers might help to relieve the symptoms.
The physician might prescribe anti-seizure medications to manage if seizures are noticed.

However, researchers are working hard on developing immunotherapeutic treatments such as monoclonal antibody therapies to treat Nipah virus infections.

How to Prevent Nipah Virus Infection?

In areas of Nipah virus outbreaks, people should take the following preventive measures:

Wash your hands properly with handwash and water.
Don’t make any kind of physical contact with sick bats, pigs, and others.
Don’t stay in areas where bats are known to settle down.
Avoid foods that might have a chance to be contaminated by bats, such as raw fruits or fruits that fall on the ground.
Don’t touch the body fluids of a person infected with Nipah virus.
Maintain standard infection control practices in every healthcare setting to prevent HAI (Hospital Acquired Infections) where there are confirmed Nipah virus cases.

Now that you know how critical this viral disease can be, seek medical help if you notice symptoms of the Nipah virus. Be particularly vigilant after returning from a place with known outbreaks of the Nipah virus.

FAQs about Nipah Virus

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What is the mortality rate of the Nipah virus?

The Nipah virus has a 70% mortality rate compared to other viruses, which is very serious.

Is the Nipah virus active in India?

Yes, there are still active cases in India. For instance, a 49-year-old man lost his life to the Nipah virus on the 30th of August, 2023.

What does the Nipah virus do to humans?

The Nipah virus causes inflammation of the brain and induces breathing difficulties.