Infection with the Nipah
virus has killed at least 10 people out of 12 confirmed cases in
Kozhikode and Malappuram of Kerala. While underlining the dangers of the
disease, which has a high mortality rate, experts stress that there is no
reason to panic because outbreaks, usually caused by
fruit bats, have been generally localised.
Teams rushed to Kerala by the Centre are working to contain the outbreak.
Containment is key
There is no need to panic, said Dr D T Mourya, director, National Institute of Virology (NIV). Virologists
working on the ground say the outbreak has been
localised and early diagnosis has helped contain the first wave.
Although the outbreak has raised fears of travellers
spreading the virus beyond Kerala, scientists have pointed out that it
is a rare infection, traditionally localised.
Why localised
The reservoir for the virus is fruit bats, which roost on trees and rarely come into contact with humans. Less than 1% of
bats will be infected with the virus and rarely will they infect humans,
experts say. Bats can infect pigs, too, another
way the disease can spread to humans. Infected humans can spread it to others
they come in contact with. During a 1998-99 outbreak in Malaysia, Nipah virus
antibodies were also detected in dogs, cats, goats and horses that had been
exposed to infected pigs.
Containment vs treatment
Timely laboratory confirmation and aggressive epidemiologic tracing of contacts with patient
quarantine and isolation can contain spread of the virus. This is
important because there is no effective specific treatment for the infection. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Severely ill
individuals need to be hospitalised and may require intensive
care. Because Nipah virus encephalitis can be transmitted
person-to-person, standard infection control
practices and proper barrier nursing techniques
are important.
High mortality
The disease has a very high mortality rate, which is the reason for the rush to
contain it. In the previous two outbreaks in India, both in West Bengal, there
were 42 deaths out of 72 cases in Siliguri in 2001, and five deaths out of 30
who showed the symptoms in Nadia in 2007.
Where it came from
Genetic studies on the Bengal outbreak suggested a relation to the Bangladesh
strain of the virus. Consumption of raw date palm sap contaminated by bats was
the primary source. Strong evidence indicated human-to-human transmission, Dr
Mourya said.
How did the virus reach Kerala?
“Extensive studies will be required at field and laboratory levels before we can make a
comment,” an NIV scientist said. Human cases have been reported from only
Bangladesh, India, Malaysia and Singapore; fruit bats are present in many other
countries.
Danger signs
The classical form is an acute and rapidly progressive encephalitis with or
without respiratory involvement. Nipah encephalitis comes with 3-14 days of
fever and headache, followed by drowsiness, disorientation and mental
confusion, Dr Mourya said. Acute encephalitis progresses to coma within 24-48
hours. Symptoms include non-productive cough during the early part of the
disease.
Credit: Indian Express Explained (http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/kerala-nipah-virus-medicine-treatment-5187299/)
Reach Us
if you face difficulty in understanding the above article.
