Nipah virus

 

Nipah virus 

Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus (spreads from animals to humans) that causes a severe and often fatal disease in people. It belongs tothe Paramyxoviridae family, genus Henipavirus.

Key facts

1. Natural reservoir

The main natural hosts are fruit bats (Pteropus species).

Bats usually don’t get sick but can spread the virus through saliva, urine, or partially eaten fruit.

2. How it spreads

Humans can get infected by:

Direct contact with bats

Eating contaminated fruit or date palm sap

Contact with infected animals (especially pigs)

Human-to-human transmission (close contact, hospital settings)

Disease in humans

Incubation period

Usually 4–14 days, can be up to 45 days.

Symptoms

Early:

Fever

Headache

Muscle pain

Vomiting, sore throat

Severe:

Encephalitis (brain inflammation)

Confusion, seizures

Coma

Mortality rate

Very high: 40%–75%, depending on the outbreak.

Treatment

No specific antiviral cure.

Treatment is supportive care only (ICU, managing breathing, brain swelling, etc.).

Prevention

Avoid raw date palm sap.

Wash and peel fruit.

Avoid contact with sick animals.

Use protective measures in healthcare settings.

Surveillance in bat and pig populations.