Nipah Virus Infection - Dr Vivek Baliga, Physician Reviews

Nipah Virus Infection - A Brief Review Dr Vivek Baliga B Consultant Physician Baliga Diagnostics

Introduction ● ● ●

Nipah virus is currently making headlines Killed 10 people in state of Kerala, affecting many more Here we will look at ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

What it is How it is spread What are the symptoms?

How can it be treated?

Can it be prevented?

A Little History ● ● ● ● ●

Not a new virus Class of paramyxovirus Natural Host - Fruit Bat Can infect - pigs and humans First outbreak - Malaysia and Singapore - 1999 ○ ○ ○

Fruit bats would drop infected pieces of mango into pig pens Pigs would consume these fruit pieces and develop serious chest infections Humans would eat these pigs and get infected.

In India…. ● ● ● ● ● ●

Regular occurrence in Bangladesh Recent outbreak in Kerala Source - Date palm sap (uncooked) Bats infect date palm sap with urine, saliva and feces (full of virus) Ingested by humans without cooking leads to infections.

Spreads between humans through close contact.

Symptoms ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

5 - 14 days to develop symptoms after virus enters Fever Headache Fatigue Progress to drowsiness and coma due to a brain inflammation called encephalitis End stage - death In Malaysia, out of 300 affected, 100 died 10 people died in Kerala so far

Diagnosis ● ● ● ●

Mostly through clinical presentation No specific tests RT-PCR test has been used on throat swabs, urine etc ELISA test to detect antibodies IgM could aid diagnosis THERE IS NO BEST TEST AS SUCH.

Treatment ● ● ● ●

Supportive only - treat fever, dehydration etc No specific antiviral treatments available Research molecule ribavirin - no human trials so far Best way is to prevent exposure to date palm sap and bats

Vaccine? â—? â—?

Nothing effective yet Immunisation using monoclonal antibodies has been shown to work in hamsters.

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