Nipah Virus: Everything You Need To Know About The Deadly Infection Reported In Kerala
The healthcare system in Kerala, which was already under immense pressure due to the COVID-19 situation in the state has been dealt an additional blow after the first case of Nipah virus death was reported.
A 12-year-old boy died in Kozhikode on Sunday, just hours after he had tested positive for Nipah.
This is the first know case and death from Nipah in Kerala this year.
This is also the third time the Nipah virus outbreak has been reported in Kerala, the previous two being in 2018 and 2019.
This year, so far the eight samples of those who were the primary contacts of the 12-year-old boy, who died due to the Nipah virus, have turned out negative.
Soon after the boy tested positive for Nipah, the health department got into action and identified around 251 people who were in direct or indirect contact. From that list, 54 were short-listed as high risk contacts and of these eight samples, who showed symptoms of fever, were sent for testing at the NIV Pune lab.
Others, who had no symptoms, have been asked to go into isolation and they continue to be in isolation in three districts -- Kozhikode, Kannur and Malappuram.
What is Nipah Virus?
According to the information available with WHO, Nipah virus (NiV) infection is a newly emerging zoonotic disease (one which spreads from animals to humans) that spreads by the ingestion of human secretions/fluids. Fruit bats, a common species of the flying mammal abundantly found in India is the host animal for the disease-causing virus.
Nipah virus is also "top of the list" of 10 priority diseases that the WHO has identified as potentials for the next major outbreak.
Symptoms
The virus, which can be spread by contact with animals or humans, can develop from headache and drowsiness, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nipah virus can cause an inflammation of the brain known as encephalitis. People who are infected with the virus may fall into a coma within 48 hours of showing symptoms.
The incubation period (interval from infection to the onset of symptoms) is believed to range from 4 to 14 days. However, an incubation period as long as 45 days has been reported.
Mortality rate
The virus can be highly lethal, with an average fatality rate of around 75 percent, according to the WHO.
Where did it originate?
Nipah was first identified in Malaysia in 1998. In India the disease was first reported in 2001 and again six years later, with the two outbreaks claiming 50 lives.?
Treatment
There is no vaccine for either humans or animals. Treatment is limited to supportive care, including rest, hydration, and treatment of symptoms as they occur.
What makes it dangerous?
One of the biggest risks of the Nipah outbreak is the high mortality which is about 75 percent.??
Most people who survive acute encephalitis make a full recovery, but long term neurologic conditions have been reported in survivors. Approximately 20% of patients are left with residual neurological consequences such as seizure disorder and personality changes. A small number of people who recover subsequently relapse or develop delayed onset encephalitis.
Deadlier than COVID?
In terms of mortality, yes, as the death rate of COVID-19 in India is less than 2 per cent. But unlike COVID-19 which is transmitted rapidly, Nipah is not. Close unprotected physical contact with Nipah virus-infected people is how the virus gets transmitted in humans.
Unanswered questions
When Nipah was first reported in Kerala in 2018, immediately the suspicion fell on fruit bats. The presence of these creatures in the area where the outbreak was reported and their past history of causing Nipah elsewhere had led to this. It was believed that patient zero may have accidentally consumed a fruit that was bitten by an infected bat.
But till date, this has not been proven beyond doubt that the infections in Kerala were transmitted from fruit bats.
This time too, the family of the 12-year-old has so far maintained that he had not eaten any bat-bitten fruits.
They however said that he had eaten rambutan fruits that grew in their backyard.
Samples of Rambutan fruits have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune for investigation.
