Nipah Virus (NiV) infection

Key facts:
 NiV infection is an emerging zoonotic disease, caused by Henipavirus
 Fruit bats belonging to the Pteropus genus are the natural reservoirs for Nipah virus
 First reported in 1999 in Sungai Nipah village of Malaysia. Periodic outbreaks in Bangladesh occur. In
India, outbreaks have occurred in West Bengal in 2001 and 2007
 The incubation period is 4-14 days, and can kill 40-100% of those infected.
 Transmission occurs through human to human contact and due to contact with sick animals (detailed
below)
Transmission: Major modes of spread are shown for outbreaks in Malaysia (blue arrows), Bangladesh (red
arrows) and the Philippines (green arrows). The present outbreak in Kerala appears to be similar to
Bangladesh, and is thought to be due to drinking water from a well that had dead bats.

(Image courtesy: BA Clayton, 2017)

Symptoms: Human infections can range from asymptomatic, acute respiratory infection and fatal encepahilitis.
Infected people develop fever, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting and sore throat. This can be followed by
dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, and neurological signs that indicate acute encephalitis. Some can
also experience atypical pneumonia and severe respiratory problems, including acute respiratory distress.

Treatment: No definitive treatment other than supportive care. There is also no vaccine

Prevention: Decrease the access of bats to date palm sap and other food. Date palm juice should be boiled,
and fruits should be thoroughly washed before consumption. Gloves and protective clothing should be worn
when handling sick / dead animals, treating / caring NIV infected people. Wash hands thoroughly after visiting
sick people. Avoid eating fruits that are bitten or scratched.

Courtesy: Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, Central University of Tamil Nadu