Two people have died due to Nipah virus disease in Kerala. Even though the disease is not a big threat to our state today, in this background we need to take precautions in Maharashtra as well and it is necessary to conduct a survey of Nifa-like diseases at all levels and plan preventive and control measures.
Nipah virus was first detected in Malaysia in 1998. In India, there were earlier outbreaks of the virus in Siliguri in 2001 and West Bengal in 2007.
Outbreaks of this disease are seen every year in Bangladesh. In Kerala, there was an outbreak of Nipah disease in Kojikond in 2018 and 2021.
How does Nipah virus spread?
• The spread of this virus is mainly through fruit bats.
• The disease is caused by bats handling or eating partially eaten fruits.
• Pigs and other domestic animals can also be affected.
• In the 1998 outbreak in Malaysia, boar farmers were mainly affected.
• Nipah virus can be transmitted from person to person.
• Medical personnel who treat the patient, relatives who care for the patient may become infected.
• Drinking palm sap contaminated with bat excreta also spreads the virus.
Incubation period is 5 to 14 days
Symptoms of Nipah disease
Symptoms of Nipah virus disease include fever, body ache, headache, drowsiness, mental confusion, fainting
Today, the mortality rate in the above outbreaks is 40 to 70 percent.
Treatment of Nipah disease
There is no specific drug for neeta virus disease, although the antiviral drug robin is used, the emphasis is mainly on symptom-based treatment and supportive care.
How to diagnose Nipah disease?
For the diagnosis of Nipah virus, the sample of throat, nasal discharge, urine, blood is tested by RTPCR method at National Institute of Science, Pune.
Survey
In this background of dipa virus disease, we need to be vigilant and conduct a survey of AES patients in the district in our state.
Suspect Nipah
Any patient with symptoms such as fever, headache, drowsiness, mental confusion, fainting, and patients with Japanese brain strongly and other brains slightly negative and having a history of travel to Nipah affected areas especially Kerala in North East India or Bangladesh Melag area in the last three weeks.
Any patient of description who should be considered as a suspected Nipah virus patient should be admitted to isolation ward and his sample should be sent to NIV Pune.
Preventive measures
Doctors and other health workers should take necessary precautions according to the Universal Precautions of the World Health Organization while treating and caring for patients.
Avoid eating fruits that fall in the forest or elsewhere in the field.