Nipah Virus (NiV) Infection

• Context (TH): A student died due to the Nipah virus in Kerala.

Nipah Virus (NiV) Infection

• Nipah infection is caused by the Nipah virus, an RNA virus that is closely related to the Hendra virus.
• Nipah infection is a zoonotic disease (transmitted from animals to humans).
• Host of the Virus: Fruit bat (Pteropus species), commonly known as flying fox.
• Transmission:
  • Direct contact with infected animals (esp. pigs)
  • Contaminated food
  • Close contact with an infected person
• Symptoms: Acute respiratory illness, seizures, and encephalitis (swelling of the brain).
• Incubation period (interval from infection to the onset of symptoms): 4 to 14 days.
• Fatality Rate: It is estimated to be between 40% and 75%.
• Treatment: No vaccine and treatment are available at present.

RNA virus Virus whose genetic material is RNA. RNA is a nucleic acid present in all living cells that has structural similarities to DNA. Nucleic acid is a naturally occurring chemical compound that acts as the primary information-carrying molecule in cells. RNA viruses have a high mutation rate, high genetic diversity, and can rapidly replicate. They include influenza viruses, HIV, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), measles virus, and Ebola virus. Route of Transmission of NiV from Bats to Humans In Bangladesh: Date palm sap In Malaysia: Pigs In Kerala: Not clearly established.

Why Nipah Virus Outbreaks are Occurring Only in Kerala?

• The four outbreaks NiV in five years have occurred in Kerala may be because:
  1. Nipah virus has become endemic in bats in Kerala
  2. Kerala’s superior healthcare system thoroughly investigates undiagnosed fever cases for NiV (NiV positive fruit bats are found in other States also, but it is likely that NiV infection and deaths may be going undetected in those States due to poor disease surveillance)
  3. NiV outbreaks are seen in human habitations close to the forest or within the forests because it increases human exposure to infected bats and other host animals.

Endemic: A disease that is regularly occurring within an area or community. Other Indian States/UTs Where NiV Antibodies are Found Apart from Kerala Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, and Puducherry. NiV Outbreak in India Apart from Kerala The first Nipah outbreak happened in India in Siliguri, WB in 2001 and then in Nadia, WB.

How Kerala’s Fight Against the NiV has Evolved Over the Years?

• During the first NiV outbreak in Kerala, the state was not prepared to handle the infection.
• But over the years the Kerala’s fight against NiV has evolved and the factors that made it possible are:
  • Strong medical infrastructure: This includes robust disease surveillance, contract tracing, setting up of isolation centres etc.
  • Public awareness: The people in Kerala are aware about the disease. They know the protocols and precautions to follow during an outbreak like social distancing. Because of these aware people government is also there is pressure on government to take proper measures.
  • Dedicated healthcare professionals: They are all trained regarding the infection. They follow the protocols seriously, due to which number of infections are controlled now in small numbers.
  • Government Protocol: in 2019, Kerala’s health department issued a short NiV infection control guideline. The protocol was again updated in 2021, making it more comprehensive in all aspects, including the treatment algorithm.

Past Outbreaks of Nipah Virus (NiV) Infection The first outbreaks of the Nipah virus were reported from Malaysia (1998) and Singapore (1999). There have been many outbreaks, all of them in South and Southeast Asian nations. In India, West Bengal and Kerala had seen Nipah virus outbreaks.