Nipah Virus: Know all about the deadly infection that killed 12-year-old boy in Kerala

According to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Nipah virus was first discovered in 1999 following an outbreak of the disease in pigs and people in Malaysia and Singapore.

The outbreak had reportedly killed over 100 and infected 300 humans. It had also caused a huge economic impact as more than 10 lakh pigs were killed to control the outbreak.

As per CDC, there have been no other known outbreaks of the Nipah virus in Malaysia and Singapore since 1999, but have been recorded almost annually in some parts of Asia since then, primarily in India and Bangladesh. 

(Photo: PTI)

A person infected with NiV may have a fever, headache, cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing and vomiting.

Severe symptoms include disorientation, drowsiness, or confusion, seizures, coma and brain swelling (encephalitis).

(Photo: IANS)

Nipah virus infection can be diagnosed during illness and after recovery. During the early stages of the illness, laboratory testing can be conducted using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from the throat and nasal swabs, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, and blood.

Later in the course of illness and after recovery, testing for antibodies can be conducted using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

(Photo: Reuters)

A person can be infected with the Nipah virus due to direct contact with infected animals, such as bats or pigs, or their body fluids (such as blood, urine or saliva).

A person can also be infected after consuming food products that have been contaminated by the body fluids of infected animals (such as palm sap or fruit contaminated by an infected bat).

The Nipah virus can also be transmitted due to close contact with a person infected with NiV or their body fluids (including nasal or respiratory droplets, urine, or blood).

In areas where Nipah virus outbreaks have occurred, people should practice handwashing regularly with soap and water.

People should also avoid contact with sick bats or pigs, avoid areas where bats are known to roost, avoid consumption of raw date palm sap and avoid consumption of fruits that may be contaminated by bats.

People should avoid contact with the blood or body fluids of any person known to be infected with NiV.

(Photo: Pixabay)