Nipah is a deadly virus with no treatment or vaccine. The World Health Organisation (WHO) considers Nipah as a 'high-risk pathogen', and it spreads from animals to humans. A rare but deadly zoonotic disease, Nipah has appeared in India multiple times, notably in West Bengal and Kerala. It can cause several illnesses, including brain inflammation and has a fatality rate ranging from 40% to 75% .
The most serious and defining complication of the Nipah virus is inflammation of the brain, known as encephalitis, reports The Independent. Neurological symptoms, including confusion, altered consciousness, seizures or coma, usually appear several days to weeks after the initial onset of illness. Some patients infected with the Nipah virus may also develop meningitis.
Dr. Deep Das, Neurologist, CK Birla Hospitals, CMRI told TOI, "Nipah first establishes its presence in human beings through upper respiratory tract replication before spreading to the bloodstream, which then allows it to infect both the cardiovascular system and various other body parts.”
ALSO READ: Nipah virus outbreak: Health ministry shares latest update on deadly infection as Thailand, Malaysia airports step up screening of passengers
“Nipah presents one of its most hazardous characteristics through its ability to create blood vessel damage because it causes blood vessel inflammation, which permits the virus to cross the blood-brain barrier and reach the brain. The Nipah virus causes extreme brain inflammation, which results in brain swelling that develops into encephalitis,” the expert explained.
“Nipah infection symptoms start with fever and muscle pain and headaches but develop into confusion and lethargy and seizures and loss of consciousness. Severe brain expansion results in the body losing control over vital processes which include breathing and heart rate regulation. The medical emergency classification of Nipah requires immediate diagnosis and needs intensive isolation and complete neurological and critical care because its progression to life-threatening stages develops quickly which raises the risk of death,” Dr Deep warned.
ALSO READ: Nipah virus outbreak: 100 people quarantined in West Bengal to contain deadly zoonotic virus with high fatality. Check how it spreads, signs, symptoms and treatment
"There is currently no vaccine available for this virus, and Monoclonal antibodies are to be given as soon as someone is diagnosed with Nipah virus infection. There is a very limited supply of these monoclonal antibodies globally," he said.
Dr Arora added that India has taken important steps to address this shortage. "India has taken this up as a very important initiative to ensure they are available within the country. I hope that, very soon, we will have a sufficient quantity of monoclonal antibodies in India," he added.
Urging caution in endemic regions, Dr Arora added, "But one has to be careful that in areas where these fruit bats are present, human and animal contact is kept to a minimum or avoided to prevent the disease. Both Kerala and West Bengal are endemic for this virus."
ALSO READ: Nipah virus update: These international airports reintroduce Covid-style health checks after West Bengal outbreak. Check the guidelines and what travellers must know
“The situation is under constant monitoring, and all necessary public health measures are in place,” the ministry said.
Earlier, Nipah outbreaks were reported in West Bengal in 2001 and 2007, while recent cases have largely been detected in Kerala. A major outbreak in 2018 killed at least 17 people in Kerala.
The most serious and defining complication of the Nipah virus is inflammation of the brain, known as encephalitis, reports The Independent. Neurological symptoms, including confusion, altered consciousness, seizures or coma, usually appear several days to weeks after the initial onset of illness. Some patients infected with the Nipah virus may also develop meningitis.
How does Nipah virus attack the brain?
Despite its rarity, the Nipah virus is not harmless but once it infects a human, things can turn serious very fast. Initial symptoms include fever, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting and sore throat, and some people may also experience drowsiness, altered consciousness, and pneumonia. In many cases, patients may also experience inflammation of the brain, according to a report in The Times of India. With the fatality rate of the Nipah virus being high, in some outbreaks, more than half the infected people didn’t survive.Dr. Deep Das, Neurologist, CK Birla Hospitals, CMRI told TOI, "Nipah first establishes its presence in human beings through upper respiratory tract replication before spreading to the bloodstream, which then allows it to infect both the cardiovascular system and various other body parts.”
ALSO READ: Nipah virus outbreak: Health ministry shares latest update on deadly infection as Thailand, Malaysia airports step up screening of passengers
“Nipah presents one of its most hazardous characteristics through its ability to create blood vessel damage because it causes blood vessel inflammation, which permits the virus to cross the blood-brain barrier and reach the brain. The Nipah virus causes extreme brain inflammation, which results in brain swelling that develops into encephalitis,” the expert explained.
“Nipah infection symptoms start with fever and muscle pain and headaches but develop into confusion and lethargy and seizures and loss of consciousness. Severe brain expansion results in the body losing control over vital processes which include breathing and heart rate regulation. The medical emergency classification of Nipah requires immediate diagnosis and needs intensive isolation and complete neurological and critical care because its progression to life-threatening stages develops quickly which raises the risk of death,” Dr Deep warned.
Nipah virus highly infectious, fatal
AIIMS Bilaspur president Professor Dr Narendra Kumar also highlighted the serious public health risks posed by the Nipah virus, describing it as a highly infectious and fatal zoonotic disease. "Nipah virus is highly infectious and fatal. Patients either develop symptoms of encephalitis or severe respiratory disease. The mortality rate ranges between 40 and 75 per cent, which is very high," he explained.ALSO READ: Nipah virus outbreak: 100 people quarantined in West Bengal to contain deadly zoonotic virus with high fatality. Check how it spreads, signs, symptoms and treatment
"There is currently no vaccine available for this virus, and Monoclonal antibodies are to be given as soon as someone is diagnosed with Nipah virus infection. There is a very limited supply of these monoclonal antibodies globally," he said.
Dr Arora added that India has taken important steps to address this shortage. "India has taken this up as a very important initiative to ensure they are available within the country. I hope that, very soon, we will have a sufficient quantity of monoclonal antibodies in India," he added.
Urging caution in endemic regions, Dr Arora added, "But one has to be careful that in areas where these fruit bats are present, human and animal contact is kept to a minimum or avoided to prevent the disease. Both Kerala and West Bengal are endemic for this virus."
ALSO READ: Nipah virus update: These international airports reintroduce Covid-style health checks after West Bengal outbreak. Check the guidelines and what travellers must know
How many Nipah virus cases have been reported in India?
The health ministry said they had contained a Nipah virus outbreak after confirming two cases in the eastern state of West Bengal. The remarks came as several Asian countries tightened health screenings and airport surveillance for travelers arriving from India. The Health Ministry said Tuesday that two Nipah cases had been detected since December and that all identified contacts had been quarantined and tested.“The situation is under constant monitoring, and all necessary public health measures are in place,” the ministry said.
Earlier, Nipah outbreaks were reported in West Bengal in 2001 and 2007, while recent cases have largely been detected in Kerala. A major outbreak in 2018 killed at least 17 people in Kerala.
