Kerala: Nipah virus kills a 12-yr-old boy, infects 2 health workers

The state governments acted quickly, sending teams to Kozhikode to assess the situation in the Chathamangalam Panchayat districts. Nipah (NiV) is a zoonotic virus (one that spreads from animals to humans) that can potentially be spread through contaminated food or directly between people, according to the World Health Organization. It causes a wide spectrum of symptoms in infected humans, ranging from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory sickness and deadly encephalitis. The virus can also cause severe sickness in animals like pigs, causing producers to lose a lot of money.

As per the WHO, there have been a few outbreaks in Asia, the Nipah virus infects a wide range of animals and causes severe sickness and death in humans, making it a public health concern. During later epidemics in Bangladesh and India, the Nipah virus moved directly from human to human through close contact with fluids and excretions.

Symptoms may initially include one or several of the following:

Fever, Headache, Cough, Sore, throat, Difficulty, breathing, Vomiting, Severe symptoms may follow, such as Disorientation, drowsiness, or confusion Seizures, Coma Brain swelling (encephalitis) Infections that lead to symptoms and sometimes death much later after exposure (known as dormant or latent infections) have also been reported months and even years after exposure, CDC adds.

Prevention of Nipah virus:

As per CDC, In areas where Nipah virus (NiV) outbreaks have occurred (Bangladesh, Malaysia, India, and Singapore), people should:

•  Practice handwashing regularly with soap and water
• Avoid contact with sick bats or pigs
• Avoid areas where bats are known to roost
• Avoid consumption of raw date palm sap
• Avoid consumption of fruits that may be contaminated by bats
• Avoid contact with the blood or body fluids of any person known to be infected with NiV