Explained | What is Nipah virus?

The news of two 'unnatural' deaths and three suspected infections due to the Nipah virus outbreak in Kozhikode district has spread panic across Kerala.

The first Nipah virus (NiV) outbreak in south India was reported from Kozhikode on May 19, 2018.

What is the Nipah virus?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus which means it is transmitted to humans from animals. It can be transmitted between people through contaminated food. The infection in humans can range from asymptomatic to respiratory and fatal encephalitis.

Symptoms of Nipah virus

Nipah virus infected individuals initially develop a wide range of symptoms including fever, headaches, myalgia (muscle pain), vomiting and sore throat, as per WHO. "This can be followed by dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, and neurological signs that indicate acute encephalitis," WHO says.

Some Nipah patients may also suffer atypical pneumonia and severe respiratory problems, including acute respiratory distress. Severe cases have shown patients suffering from Encephalitis and seizures, which eventually develops into coma within 24 to 48 hours.

How does the Nipah virus spread?

Nipah is a zoonotic virus which means it is transmitted to humans through animals, mainly by consuming contaminated food. Meanwhile, human to human transmission of the virus is also considered to be possible. Fruit bats are known to transmit the Nipah virus to other animals like pigs, dogs, cats, goats, horses and sheep.

The mortality rate is seen to be high. In its first outbreak in Siliguri, out of the 66 infected people, 45 of them died, making the mortality rate 68 per cent.