Nipah virus infection
Nipah virus infection (pronunciation: /ˈniːpɑː/)
The Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic infection that can be transmitted from animals, such as fruit bats and pigs, to humans. It can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people. In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis.
Etymology
The virus is named after the village of Sungai Nipah in Malaysia, where it was first identified in 1998 during an outbreak of illness affecting pig farmers and people with close contact with pigs.
Symptoms
The Nipah virus infection can be asymptomatic or symptomatic. The symptomatic infection presents as an acute respiratory infection or fatal encephalitis. The symptoms start to appear within 3-14 days after exposure and include fever, headaches, myalgia (muscle pain), vomiting and sore throat. This can be followed by dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, and neurological signs that indicate acute encephalitis.
Transmission
The Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus, which means it can be transmitted from animals to humans. The primary hosts of the virus are fruit bats of the Pteropodidae Family, Pteropus genus. The virus can also be transmitted through contaminated food, particularly date palm sap contaminated by infected fruit bats. Human-to-human transmission has also been documented.
Prevention and Treatment
There is currently no vaccine for either humans or animals. The primary treatment for human cases is intensive supportive care. Prevention is focused on avoiding exposure to infected animals and refraining from consuming contaminated food.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Nipah virus infection
- Wikipedia's article - Nipah virus infection
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