According to a story from the Washington Post, an outbreak of Nipah virus has claimed a total of ten lives so far in south India. Medical teams are starting to work incessantly in order to contain the virus as well as prevent panic about the pathogen from getting out of control. Dozens of others have showed signs of illness and have been under quarantine. Meanwhile, two additional victims are hospitalized in critical condition.
Nipah virus is a species of virus that is associated with fruit bats, which appear to naturally harbor it. Fruit bats of the genus Pteropus, such as the greater flying fox and the small flying fox, are the most common carriers and are unaffected by the virus. When transmitted to a human, the virus causes symptoms such as headache, fever, drowsiness, and disorientation. Patients can slip into a coma in as little as 24 hours after symptoms appear. The most dangerous complication is brain inflammation; some patients also have breathing problems which make the virus easier to spread. Caregivers should take the strictest measures possible to prevent the spread of the virus, which is strongly contagious. There is no effective treatment. To learn more about Nipah virus, click here.
The infection began in the Indian state of Kerala. The medical team there have no prior experience containing Nipah virus. Regardless, the health minister of the state, K.K. Shailaja, says that the outbreak has been “effectively” contained and that any public panic was unjustified. Nevertheless, medical centers have been almost overwhelmed with concerned citizens showing up with fevers in order to confirm that they do not have Nipah virus.
