Nipah Virus grips Kerala, India

AT least two had been confirmed dead, as schools, offices and public transport were shut down and several villages were quarantined as the Nipah virus struck the southern state of Kerala in India.

Hundreds are now being subjected to tests, as according to reports, a fifth case of the Nipah virus was detected in a 24 year old healthcare worker.

The said health worker works at a private hospital in Kozhikode. Now all staff and patients are  being reportedly tested after the confirmed Nipah virus infection.

To contain its spread, the Kerala government had ordered to shut all educational institutions in Kozhikode and other containment zones. 

Earlier reports said that the virus strain, seen in the state was the Bangladesh variant, spreads from human to human.

It reportedly has a high mortality rate, but it is less infectious.

Local health officials said that the condition of the  76 people who are in the high-risk contact category remains stable. She said 13 persons who have mild symptoms are now being monitored in the hospital, and only the child is in the Intensive Care Unit.

WHAT IS THE NIPAH VIRUS

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention described the Nipah virus (NiV) as a zoonotic virus, meaning that it can spread between animals and people. 

Fruit bats, also called flying foxes, are said to be the animal reservoir for NiV in nature. 

Bats are also being suspected as the main carriers of COVID-19, but it is still under study.

The Nipah virus is said to have caused illness in pigs and people. 

The infection of an NiV is associated with encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and can cause mild to severe illness and even death. 

The said outbreaks usually occur almost annually in parts of Asia, primarily Bangladesh and India.

Nipah virus infection can be prevented by avoiding exposure to sick pigs and bats in areas where the virus is present, and not drinking raw date palm sap which can be contaminated by an infected bat. 

During an outbreak, standard infection control practices can help prevent person-to-person spread in hospital settings.

The incubation period for Nipah Virus is 4 to 14 days.

SYMPTOMS

Among the listed symptoms of the Nipah Virus include:

-Fever

-Headaches

-Myalgia

-Vomiting

-Sore throat

-Dizziness

-Drowsiness

-Altered consciousness

-Neurological signs that indicate acute encephalitis

SHOULD YOU BE WORRIED

Shawn Christopher, a 25-year-old IT worker in Taguig, said that one can never be too relaxed when it comes to viruses.

“It is as it is. We have to always be prepared and arm ourselves and stay healthy,” he said.

But for 20-year-old UST student Craig David Garcia, he can’t help but think of COVID-19 all over again.

“I just don’t want that (COVID-19) to happen again. Many people’s lives were taken. We don’t want the entire world to shut down again even as it is just starting to heal,” he said.

The World Health Organization had said that, “Most people make a full recovery, although some are left with residual neurological conditions after acute encephalitis. Some cases of relapse have been reported.”

What do you think should be done? Let us know in the comments.