FOLLOWING the outbreak of Nipah virus in West Bengal with five people having been infected the Thai Consulate-General issued a warning to Thais travelling to this Indian state and Bodh Gaya in Bihar to be vigilant, closely monitor news updates and maintain strict hygiene, TV Channel 7 said this morning (Jan. 24).
While no Thais have caught this infection in India, those already there or intend to travel to the two Indian states were also advised to avoid consumption of unsanitary fruits, foods and raw foods.
The West Bengal state health authorities have warned the public to maintain strict hygiene practices, such as wearing face masks and using hand sanitizer as there is a possibility of zoonotic transmission, the Thai Consulate-General said.
India is moving quickly to contain the Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal after five cases were confirmed, including doctors and nurses who were infected, according to The Independent.
Nearly 100 people have been asked to quarantine at home, and infected patients were being treated in hospitals in and around the capital Kolkata, according to local media reports, with one patient in a critical condition.
Nipah is a deadly virus with no vaccine or cure and is considered a high-risk pathogen by the World Health Organization. Experts say human infections are rare and usually occur when the virus spills over from bats, often through contaminated fruit.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the incubation period is generally believed to range from four to 21 days, though longer delays between exposure and illness have been reported in rare cases during previous outbreaks.
Patients typically develop a sudden flu-like illness marked by fever, headache, muscle pain and fatigue. In some cases, respiratory symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath or pneumonia also occur, although the timing and severity of these symptoms can vary widely.
The most serious and defining complication of Nipah infection is inflammation of the brain, known as encephalitis. Neurological symptoms, including confusion, altered consciousness, seizures or coma, usually appear several days to weeks after the initial onset of illness.
Some patients may also develop meningitis.
Survivors may experience long-term neurological effects, such as persistent seizures or changes in personality, according to the UK Health Security Agency’s update.
In rare cases, encephalitis has been reported to recur months or even years after the initial infection, either due to relapse or reactivation of the virus.
The World Health Organisation summarised key facts about Nipah virus as follows:
– Nipah virus infection in humans causes a range of clinical presentations, from asymptomatic infection (subclinical) to acute respiratory infection and fatal encephalitis.
– The case fatality rate is estimated at 40% to 75%. This rate can vary by outbreak depending on local capabilities for epidemiological surveillance and clinical management.
– Nipah virus can be transmitted to humans from animals (such as bats or pigs), or contaminated foods and can also be transmitted directly from human-to-human.
– Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are the natural host of Nipah virus.
– There is no treatment or vaccine available for either people or animals. The primary treatment for humans is supportive care.
– The 2018 annual review of the WHO R&D Blueprint list of priority diseases indicates that there is an urgent need for accelerated research and development for the Nipah virus.
CAPTIONS:
Front Page – Large grey-headed flying fox Pteropus bat with spread wings hanging upside down from a branch. Photo – The Hindu
Top – Some bats. Photo – WHO
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