Most common questions used to investigate
Do you know what Nipah virus is?
Are you planning to travel to Asia or Africa any time soon?
Are you a caregiver for a person infected with Nipah virus?
Do you know the signs and symptoms of the Nipah virus infection?
Do you know the diagnosis of the Nipah virus?
Do you know the treatment for the Nipah virus?
Common conclusions
Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus that spreads from animals to humans and also from one human being to another. This transmission between humans takes place through contact or through the sharing of food. If infected, it can result in many serious symptoms, especially respiratory illness. Though some people tend to be asymptomatic (no sign of symptoms), there are many who have died due to the Nipah virus. This rapid transmission coupled with its fatality, makes the Nipah virus dangerous especially when it is transmitted within a community.
Nipah transmissions have occurred frequently in some Asian and African countries. The first reported case was in 1999 in Malaysia and was first detected among pigs. It occurred in Bangladesh in 2001 and in general, countries like Cambodia, India, Ghana, Indonesia, Madagascar, and Thailand are places where this virus can spread.
Nipah virus is known to spread from one person to another. This human to human transmission has been reported among family members and caregivers of infected persons. So, if you have a family member who is infected or if you're caring for an infected person, make sure you take all necessary precautions as there's a high chance for you to contract it as well.
The initial symptoms of an infected person include fever, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, and vomiting. Some of the secondary symptoms can include constant drowsiness, dizziness, and sometimes even intense neurological signs. However, the most defining symptom is acute respiratory illness or pneumonia within an average of 24 to 48 hours of contact. The incubation period of this virus ranges from 4 to 14 days, but it can also extend up to 45 days.
It is difficult to diagnose the Nipah virus during the initial stages because its symptoms are common to other conditions as well. Unfortunately, this delayed diagnosis can hinder timely treatment. The best way to diagnose the Nipah virus is through two kinds of tests, namely, the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Both these tests take body fluids and test them for antibodies.
There are no known drugs or vaccines for the Nipah virus and only intensive supportive care can be given for patients with acute respiratory illness. This is what makes this condition highly dangerous. The best option is to prevent these bats and minimize connections with pigs and fruit bats as both are known to both the primary causes of the spread of this virus.
Unfortunately, there is no treatment yet and prevention is the best cure against this disease.
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