Protect Yourself from Nipah Virus: Key Symptoms & Prevention Tips

What is Nipah Virus (Niv)?

Nipah is a zoonotic disease that spreads from animals to humans. The virus is transmitted to humans only through animals that have backbones and skeletons. Some cases of human-to-human transmission have also been reported.
NiV first appeared in 1998 in Kampung Sungai Nipa, Malaysia. From there the virus got its name. At that time pigs were the carriers of this disease. But then, where NiV was known, there was no way to carry the virus.
In 2004, some people in Bangladesh came under the virus. These people tasted the juice from the palm tree and their bats were known to carry the bacteria in this liquid, called Fruit Bat.

Symptoms of Nipah virus:

According to the WHO, the first symptoms in infected people are fever, headache, myalgia (muscle pain), vomiting, and sore throat.
It can cause dizziness and encephalitis. Some people may also experience unusual pneumonia and breathing difficulties.
In severe cases, patients may go into a coma within 24 to 48 hours. The virus remains active for 4 to 14 days.

How does the Nipah virus spread?

The Nipah virus is spread by infected pigs or bats eating the fruit. It is spread through saliva, urine, or stool. According to the WHO, infection is most common in Bangladesh and India through the consumption of raw fruit or fruit products (such as raw palm juice). These are fruits that are contaminated with bat urine or saliva. This is the main cause of infection.

How can bacterial infections be prevented?

According to the WHO, if Nipah is suspected, the place where the animal lives should be abandoned immediately.
Infected animals should be killed to reduce the risk of infection to humans. The body of the animal should be buried after consulting an expert.
The spread of the disease can be reduced by restricting the movement of animals from infected farms to other areas.
Avoid consuming raw palm juice. Eat only washed fruits, and avoid eating half-dried fruits from the ground.