10 People Have Died In Kerala So Far, Here's What's So Deadly About Nipah Virus

At least 10 people have died in Kerala in the past couple of weeks suspected of a rare virus infection known as Nipah virus. The Kerala government on Tuesday confirmed that out of the 18 samples from suspected cases so far, 10 have been tested positive.

AFP

According to reports nearly two dozen people are being treated in various hospitals in northern Kerala's Kozhikode and Malappuram which are suspected to be Nipah. With the panic spreading, the state government has began acting swiftly to assess the situation and to take preventive measures.

BCCL

A group of medical experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), have also been dispatched by the centre to take stock of the situation in the state. Efforts have been made to control the movement of fruit bats, which are the carrier of the deadly virus.

BCCL

People have been advised not to eat fruits bitten by birds and avoid taking water from wells, where there is presence of bats.

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) which 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.

BCCL

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 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.