In Kerala, already battling the corona virus epidemic, recently the health department suffered another major setback when a 12-year-old boy died in Kozhikode after being found infected with Nipah virus. Experts say that if some new cases of Nipah virus come to the fore, then it can become the cause of second epidemic after corona.
The first Nipah virus case in the South Indian state of Kerala was reported in Kozhikode district on 19 May 2018. As of June 1, 2018, 17 patients had died and 18 confirmed cases in the state. Nipah virus was first identified in Malaysia in 1998.
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What is Nipah Virus?
Experts say that Nipah is a paramyxovirus and it can spread from animals to humans. It also spreads from one person to another. It was first recognized among pig farmers in Malaysia. This disease appeared in the year 2001 in Siliguri, West Bengal and again in the year 2007.
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This virus was mostly confined to one area. Anyone who comes in contact with it spreads the infection of this virus. Some people had tasted the liquid coming out of the palm tree and there were bats known to carry the virus to this liquid, which are called fruit bats.
Symptoms of Nipah
According to the WHO note, people infected with this virus initially have complaints like fever, headache, vomiting, sore throat. After that all the neurological infections like weakness, dizziness, sleepiness come. These patients show encephalitis-like symptoms. Some people complain of pneumonia and have difficulty in breathing. Patients can go into coma in 24-48 hours after these symptoms appear.
The incubation period (time between infection and symptom onset) of Nipah virus ranges from 4 to 14 days. The WHO said that some cases have been reported after 45 days of its infection. Generally, this virus is transmitted to humans from bats, pigs or other humans who are vulnerable to infection.
Is it a medicine or a vaccine?
According to WHO, no specific medicine or vaccine has been made for Nipah virus so far. Intensive supportive care (ICU) is needed to deal with the respiratory problems and neurological problems that arise due to this. The WHO has advised that if a Nipah outbreak is possible in an area, the animal habitation area should be immediately isolated.
Infected animals should be killed and killed animals should be carefully burned or buried deep. The sound of other animals at infected sites should be stopped. The National Center for Disease Control has said that people who have come between Nipah infected animals or humans should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water. Avoid eating unripe fruits. Eat only washed fruits.
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