ISLAMABAD: After Nipah Virus (NiV) was reported in India with six lab-confirmed cases and two deaths, the National Institute of Health (NIH) has issued an advisory to enhance precautionary measures.

The virus infection in humans causes a range of clinical presentations, from asymptomatic infection (subclinical) to acute respiratory infection and fatal encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). After exposure and an incubation period of five to 14 days, the infected individual presents with fever and headache, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting, followed by drowsiness, disorientation and mental confusion, which may last for three to 14 days.

These signs and symptoms can progress to a coma within 24-48 hours. Long-term sequels following the Nipah virus infection include persistent convulsions and personality changes. As reported from previous outbreaks, the case fatality rate varies from 40pc to 100pc.

According to the advisory, Nipah virus (NiV) infection causes severe disease in both animals and humans and is endemic in Southeast Asia. NiV was initially isolated and identified in 1999 in Malaysia and Singapore during an outbreak of encephalitis and respiratory illness among pig farmers and people in close contact with pigs.

Since 2018, several outbreaks have been reported, with subsequent clustering of cases in family contacts and additional reports of nosocomial transmission in healthcare settings. An outbreak of Nipah virus (NiV) with six laboratory-confirmed cases and two deaths has been reported during September 2023 by the State government of Kerala, India.

Previously, countries including Bangladesh, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore have also reported confirmed cases of the Nipah virus in humans. Although the virus has caused only a few known outbreaks in Asia, it infects a wide range of animals and causes severe disease and death in people, making it a public health concern.

“Nipah Virus is an emerging bat-borne zoonotic disease transmitted to humans through infected animals (bats and pigs) or contaminated food with the saliva, urine, and excreta of the infected animals. It can also be transmitted directly from person to person through close contact with an infected person,” the advisory stated.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2023