NIPAH VIRUS INFECTION

• A newly emerging zoonosis 
• RNA virus of the family Paramyxoviridae, genus Henipavirus, and closely related to Hendra virus.
• Gets its name from the village in Malaysia where the person from whom the virus was first isolated succumbed to the disease. 

Spread- 

• Natural host - fruit bats of the Pteropodidae Family, Pteropus genus. (Grey-headed flying foxes - Pteropus poliocephalus)
• The virus is present in bat urine and potentially, bat faeces, saliva, and birthing fluids. 
• Transmission may be due to fomites – or carrying the virus on clothing, equipment, boots, vehicles.

Outbreaks- 

• First outbreak - in Kampung Sungai Nipah, Malaysia, 1998. Intermediate hosts- Pigs. 
• In 2004, Bangladesh - humans became infected with NiV as a result of consuming date palm sap that had been contaminated by infected fruit bats. 
• Human-to-human transmission - documented. 
• Can cause disease in pigs and other domestic animals

Clinical features- 

• incubation period of 5 to 14 days
• Presenting symptoms - 3-14 days of fever and headache, followed by drowsiness, disorientation and mental confusion. 
• Can progress to coma within 24-48 hours.
• Ranges from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory syndrome and fatal encephalitis. 
• Some patients have a respiratory illness during the early part of their infections, and half of the patients showing severe neurological signs showed also pulmonary signs.
• Long-term sequelae noted -persistent convulsions and personality changes.
• Latent infections with subsequent reactivation of Nipah virus and death have also been reported months and even years after exposure.

Treatment -

• No specific treatment 
• Intensive supportive care 
• No vaccine 

Ref -

WHO 

CDC