Nipah Virus

  2 dead and 50 sick with a new outbreak of Nipah virus in Kerala—officials work to maintain it and understand the effects of Nipah on humans—many wonder is the Nipah virus worth worrying about globally? 

After examination, two cases where the patient(s) died are attributed to Nipah, recently in the state of Kerala, a southwestern coastal region of India. Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus, usually transmitted from animal to human. Contaminated food or water could also be a way where the virus enters the human body. There is no current cure or treatment for Nipah, which makes organizations like WHO (World Health Organization) put it as a priority to isolate it. 

The recent resurgence in cases in India have put authorities on high alert, checking travelers for symptoms–fever, headaches, sore throat, muscle pain and vomiting, making it a similar virus to severe colds or the flu– to even banning travel in certain countries. 

Authorities and scientists believe that fruit bats like those found in Australia, certain parts in Asia and Africa are carriers of the virus and are spreading it and infecting people with it. Scientists believe that those in close contact with infected patients, family members or neighbors can be given it. The risk of overcrowding in medical scenes like hospitals and local medicine administrators is severe– which causes more outspread of the disease. 

Since then, authorities have taken responsibility to separate those who are sick from those in hospitals and healthcare workers continue to risk themselves to the virus by helping those who emit symptoms. Nipah affects not only humans but also animals, attributing over 1 million pig deaths and an uncounted number of deaths from infected bats, who succumbed to the virus. 

Animals affected with Nipah virus like flying focus or infected bats shed liquid– which is the act of spreading the virus ‘malware’ or code into saliva or urine which when released and then unknowingly ingested can cause the spread of Nipah. Nipah through humans is spread by an infected person's bodily fluids like the bats and respiratory droplets like saliva or the act of coughing which spreads the respiratory droplets which are infected with the virus. 

This isn’t the first Nipah virus within the last couple of years. Though considered deadly, Nipah outbreaks are semi-constant, most frequently occurring during December to May. This is to be considered because of the breeding of fruit bats and—depending on the country—when the local palm sap is collected which can become contaminated between these months of breeding from the bats. Nipah virus was first discovered in Malaysia in 1998 and has since then spread.

 Outbreaks like those found in Bangladesh, Malaysia, India, the Philippines and Singapore. There is a 71% fatality rate in Bangladesh, and a 39% fatality rate in Malaysia. It is classified as a biosafety level-4, which means it is considered one of the most deadly viruses in the world, next to those of: Ebola, Marburg virus, Lassa Fever, Bolivian hemorrhagic fever. 

Like many of these viruses, Nipah virus causes respiratory failure, severe nervous system attacks and, most notably: rapid brain inflammation, also known as encephalitis. The swelling of the brain— though surviviable– can cause side effects of surviving: Permanent challenges like memory loss, cognitive difficulties, Prospagnosia (a condition causing inability to recognize faces) , seizures, fatigue and personality changes. 

There has been much concern on whether Nipah virus would make it further west to Canada, America, many professionals and authorities believe there is no concern.

 “Overall, the risk of regional or global spread of Nipah virus is very low,” Linfa Wang, a biochemistry teacher of the Duke-NUS Medical School, said.Nipah virus is deadly, but not easily spread. The incubation period of Nipah could be as fast as four days to 45. Spreading Nipah virus from human to human is possible but has been proven that the exposure period needs to be prolonged, or one would have to be in direct contact with an infected person's saliva, urine or respiratory droplets. For those who don’t work in health care or have a sick family member, there is little to no concern. 

Professor Peter Bradley– Jersey's director of Public Health– interviewed by BBC, “No cases of Nipah virus have been reported in the UK.” Ultimately the confirmation of no cases further from India, showing no cases in Mexico, U.S. and Canada respectively; making Nipah one of the most contained deadly viruses in the world

. “A virus that is fast spreading [is dangerous] because even if it is mild, it can infect a large number of people and end up causing more harm to others,” Giada Florentino, NHS sophomore Giada Florentine commented.

 Due to the nature of Nipah, it is most likely stopping in Kerala before making its seasonal due later in the year. 

The World Health Organization continues to research Nipah and find better ways to prevent it and prevent human-to-human transmission. “The situation is under constant monitoring, and all necessary public health measures are in place,” the ministry said.