About Nipah infection

• It is a viral infection caused by the Nipah virus (NiV).
• Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are the natural host of Nipah virus.
• The disease was first identified in 1998 during an outbreak in Malaysia and it was named after a village in Malaysia, Sungai Nipah. Later, Nipah outbreaks have been reported in Singapore, Bangladesh and India.
• A study in 2018 has identified many South East Asian countries including Indian states as potential hotspots for the NiV disease.
• NiV is on the top-10 priority list pathogens identified by the World Health Organization.

Transmission

• It is a zoonotic virus (transmitted from animals to humans) which can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people.
• Consumption of fruits or fruit products (such as raw date palm juice) contaminated with urine or saliva from infected fruit bats is the most likely source of infection.
• In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. 
• The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers. 

Treatment

• There are currently no drugs or vaccines specific for Nipah virus infection.
• The primary treatment for humans is supportive care.
• Preventing the Nipah virus involves infection control measures like using protective equipment, disinfecting surfaces, and avoiding sick animals or areas with known Nipah virus outbreaks.