By: Dr. Abhishek Kumar Pandey, Asstt. Editor-ICN
LUCKNOW: Nipah virus infection is an emerging disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, causing respiratory illness and encephalitis in humans. Majority of these infections originate from wildlife.
Bats are the natural host of many potential zoonotic diseases, including Ebola, severe cute respiratory syndrome [SARS] and Middle East respiratory syndrome [MERS], as well as of pathogens like coronavirus and Hendra virus, besides the recently identified Influenza A and NIPAH virus.
NIPAH virus was first detected in Sungai Nipah, a place in Malaysia in 1998. It was initially thought to be a form of Japanese encephalitis, but later it was found out to be one of the deadliest viruses known to infect humans with a mortality rate ranging from 40% to 75%.
TRANSMISSION- Fruit bats, also known as flying foxes of the genes Pteropus are natural reservoir hosts of Nipah and Hendra viruses, which are present in the urine and saliva of fruit bats. It is believed that the excretions and secretions of fruit bats caused the infection of pigs in Malaysia followed by an outbreak in different parts of Malaysia.
Signs and Symptoms- The incubation period of Nipah virus infection generally ranges from 4 days to 2 weeks, but it may extend even upto 45-60 days. Although some Nipah virus infection can be asymptomatic. Most of the infections are associated with acute respiratory diseases. This infection usually begins with a fever, headache, sore throat, muscle pain and often with a non- productive cough. This may be followed by Encephalitis with symptoms such as Nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, disorientation, convulsions, coma and the signs of brainstem dysfunction.
The pathological changes commonly seen in a patient with nipah virus infection are encephalitis and systemic vasculitis, sometimes in combination with respiratory disease. The brain is the most severely affected organ followed by the kidneys, lungs and heart. Septicemia, bleeding from GIT and renal impairment along with other complications are possible in severely infected cases.
DIAGNOSIS- Its confirmation is often made through laboratory tests like-
1). Virus isolation
2). Immunohistochemistry
3). Electron microscopy
4). Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
5). Serum neutralization assay
6). ELISA
Prevention and Treatment-Currently there are no antiviral drugs or specific vaccines to treat Nipah virus infection. Intensive supportive care with the treatment of symptoms is the main approach to control this infection in humans.
The important measures to check the spread of this infection include avoidance of close contact with fruit bats including there secretions and excretions. Fruits should be washed thoroughly, peeled, or cooked before eating.
Patients infected with nipah virus infection should be isolated and personal protective equipment’s, such as protective clothing, gloves and masks should be used. Good personal hygiene, including hand washing should be done to reduce the risks of developing this infection.
