Nipah Virus
2023 SEP 14
Preliminary >
Science and Technology > Miscellaneous > Diseases
Why in news?
- Cases of Nipah Virus have been found in Kerala again after two people were confirmed to have died of the viral disease in Kozhikode district, Kerala.
About Nipah virus:
- Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus (it is transmitted from animals to humans) and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people.
- It is not likely to spread like Covid-19 as it is not an air borne infection.
- It is a type of RNA virus in the genus Henipavirus.
- The virus normally circulates among specific types of fruit bats
- In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis.
- The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers.
- Although Nipah virus has caused only a few known outbreaks in Asia, it infects a wide range of animals and causes severe disease and death in people, making it a public health concern.
Source of Nipah virus:
- The virus was first identified in Kampung Sungai Nipah in Malaysia and in Singapore in 1998.
- At that time, it was primarily caused in pigs and through them got transferred to the humans.
- As quoted by the World Health Organisation, the natural hosts of the virus are fruit bats of the Pteropodidae Family, Pteropus genus.
Treatment for Nipah virus:
- No vaccine has been developed for curing the infection in both humans and animals. The primary treatment for human cases is intensive supportive care and supportive medicines.
Add ons:
- About 700 human cases of Nipah virus were estimated to have occurred, and 50 to 75 percent of those infected died.
- In May 2018, an outbreak of the disease caused 17 deaths in the state of Kerala.
PRACTICE QUESTION:
Which of the following statements are correct regarding Nipah virus?
1. Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus
2. It can be transmitted through contaminated food.
3. No vaccine has been developed against Nipah virus infection.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer