Nipah Alert in West Bengal After Two Suspected Cases: What Is the Deadly Virus and Its Symptoms?

Two suspected cases of Nipah virus were detected in West Bengal, and to contain its spread, a National Joint Outbreak Response Team has been deployed. The team would assist the West Bengal state government

in containing and overseeing the public health response measures. According to health officials, the suspected cases were detected on January 11 at the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory of the Indian Council of Medical Research at AIIMS Kalyani. Nipah virus is a serious zoonotic infection known for its high mortality and potential for rapid spread. The officials said they are handling the cases with utmost priority. News reports say the two suspected cases are critical-care healthcare workers from Barasat, now on ventilator support.

What is the Nipah virus?

Nipah virus spreads between animals and people mainly through fruit but can also spread through pigs and other animals like goats, horses, dogs, or cats. The virus spreads when:

• People or animals have contact with the bodily fluids (blood, poop, pee, or saliva) of an infected animal.
• People eat foods that have been contaminated by an infected animal.
• People are in close contact with a person who has the Nipah virus, usually while caring for them.

According to experts, the best way to avoid the Nipah virus is to avoid exposure to sick animals in areas with known transmission. This includes avoiding food products that can be contaminated by an infected animal, such as raw date palm sap or fruit. Since the virus can spread from person to person through bodily fluids, it is advisable to avoid or take precautions when near anyone who may be infected with the virus.

Signs and symptoms of Nipah virus

A few initial symptoms of Nipah virus include:

• High fever
• Severe headache
• Breathing issues
• Cough and sore throat
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Muscle pain and severe weakness
• Confusion and disorientation
• Slurred speech
• Seizures
• Coma
• Respiratory distress

Symptoms typically begin within four to 14 days after exposure to the virus. It’s common to have a fever or headache first and develop respiratory problems like cough and difficulty breathing later. According to doctors, in severe cases, you may develop a brain infection, or encephalitis. Other severe symptoms include:

What does the Nipah virus do to humans?

Nipah virus can be deadly to humans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, death may occur in 40to 75 per cent of all cases. This depends on how well health officials can manage the outbreak. How deadly is the virus? According to doctors, Nipah is highly contagious and can spread through bodily fluids like saliva, poop, pee, and blood. This means if you are caring for anyone who is infected, you could get it when they cough or sneeze. The virus mainly spreads from animals to humans, but can also spread from person to person. And so, it is important for caregivers to wear protective equipment when treating a person with the Nipah virus. Since the virus spreads through respiratory droplets, make sure not to be around people who have it.