How was Nipah virus born?
Nipah virus (NiV) was first discovered in 1999 following an outbreak of disease in pigs and people in Malaysia and Singapore. This outbreak resulted in nearly 300 human cases and more than 100 deaths, and caused substantial economic impact as more than 1 million pigs were killed to help control the outbreak.
Is there a cure for Nipah virus?
Currently there are no licensed treatments available for Nipah virus (NiV) infection. Treatment is limited to supportive care, including rest, hydration, and treatment of symptoms as they occur.
Is Nipah virus DNA virus?
Nipah virus (NiV) is a nonsegmented, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA virus belonging to the genus Henipavirus, family Paramyxoviridae. NiV causes acute encephalitis and respiratory disease in humans, is associated with high mortality, and poses a threat in southern Asia.
Is there a vaccine for Nipah?
Currently, there are no vaccines licensed for the prevention of Nipah disease. To date, there are no vaccine approved for humans but at least eight experimental preventive candidate vaccines against henipaviruses have been evaluated in preclinical animal models.
How do you stop Nipah?
Avoid contact with sick bats or pigs. Avoid areas where bats are known to roost. Avoid eating or drinking products that could be contaminated by bats, such as raw date palm sap, raw fruit, or fruit that is found on the ground. Avoid contact with the blood or body fluids of any person known to be infected with NiV.
How long does Nipah virus survive?
Nipah virus can survive for days in fruit juice or flying-fox urine (22). Since date palm sap is sold and consumed within a few hours of collection, consumers could ingest infectious virus.
How can you prevent Nipah virus?
Practice handwashing regularly with soap and water. Avoid contact with sick bats or pigs. Avoid areas where bats are known to roost. Avoid eating or drinking products that could be contaminated by bats, such as raw date palm sap, raw fruit, or fruit that is found on the ground.
What are the symptoms of Nipah virus?
The illness initially presents as 3-14 days of fever and headache, and often includes signs of respiratory illness, such as cough, sore throat, and difficulty breathing….Severe symptoms may follow, such as:
- Disorientation, drowsiness, or confusion.
- Seizures.
- Coma.
- Brain swelling (encephalitis)