New Virus "Nipah" from India and how it threatens

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

The world is concerned about the fight against coronavirus, while experts are alarming - a new threat lurks in India. This is the Nipah virus, which has a much higher mortality rate - up to 75%. This pathogen can provoke a new pandemic, which is confirmed by WHO experts. What is it and can it be dangerous for the world?

Dangerous virus Nipah

According to the latest news from 2021, a new Nipah virus in India has led to an outbreak that has already resulted in the death of 10 people. The natural hosts of the virus are fruit-eating animals. Basically, these are bats or pigs. Small epidemic outbreaks occur from time to time. This mainly occurs in Southeast Asia.

The Nipah virus was first detected in 1999 following an outbreak in Malaysia. At that time, there were 265 cases of acute encephalitis associated with pig farms. Initially, the patients were suspected of having Japanese encephalitis, but after a detailed examination, the pathology was identified as infection with the Nipah virus.

Since then, small outbreaks of the infection have occurred annually in 2000-2020, for example in Malaysia, Singapore, India and Northern Australia. Most importantly, the mortality rate in case of infection with the Nipah virus reaches 75%.

WHO experts acknowledge that Nipah has pandemic potential. Over the past decade, the virus has spread to China, India and Bangladesh.

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Symptoms of pathology

The Nipah virus belongs to the paramyxovirus family. This is exactly the same family of viruses that includes common diseases such as measles, mumps, and other parainfluenza-like pathologies. Those who have had this infection may experience neurological damage.

According to reports, the virus provokes inflammation of the brain, fever, headaches, which are noted up to 2 weeks. In addition, the infected complain of severe fatigue, drowsiness, disorientation and consciousness disorders.

Symptoms of infection appear between 4 and 14 days. The pandemic potential is high due to the long incubation time of the virus. According to WHO experts, it can be up to 45 days, which makes it possible to spread quickly.

It is mainly transmitted through direct contact with infected bats or pigs and their secretions. The virus can also spread from person to person.

Although the Nipah virus was first discovered 20 years ago, there is no effective treatment for causation, only the symptoms are treated.

Why a virus can be dangerous

Why, according to scientists, a virus with such a mortality rate can have pandemic potential and why is it especially dangerous? Usually, such pathologies kill their hosts too quickly, which significantly reduces the likelihood of further spread of the infection and reduces the pandemic potential. But there is something about the Nipah virus that worries scientists.

The Nipah virus, although a zoonotic pathogen, is different from many other viruses. Symptoms of infection usually appear between 4 and 14 days, but, important and dangerous, the virus can take a very long time to incubate. According to the WHO, this can be up to 45 days, which provides an extremely long transmission period.

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At the end of incubation, the first symptoms of infection appear: headaches, for example. Symptoms are not specific and can be easily confused with other conditions such as the flu. Dizziness and other neurological symptoms follow, as well as acute encephalitis. Patients who survive the infection may develop long-term neurological problems, including personality changes.

Regarding the Nipah virus, the only hope is that the current strains cannot be transmitted by airborne droplets, so they are unlikely to pose the same level of pandemic risk as viruses such as SARS-CoV-2.

The study and further analysis of viruses such as Nipah will enable the world to better prepare for new virus threats.

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Many people who like to travel are often unaware that bats transmit diseases. Knowledge is still lacking. Fruit-eating bats are abundant in Thailand, in markets, schools and tourist sites. These zones can be visited by millions of visitors annually. All these people are at risk, since the Nipah virus can pass from bats to humans in such places.

Experts around the world have warned that the COVID-19 pandemic should serve as a wake-up call to governments around the world to prepare for future epidemics and learn how to prevent them.

Outcomes

1. The Nipah virus has been circulating in Asia and Australia for 20 years. Small outbreaks of infection occur every year.
2. Mortality from infection with this virus reaches 75%.
3. Scientists point out that the greatest threat is the incubation period of the virus, which can be up to 45 days, which provides a long transmission time.