Nipah virus infection

Nipah virus infection is a viral infection caused by the Nipah virus. Symptoms from infection vary from none to fever, cough, headache, shortness of breath, and confusion. This may worsen into a coma over a day or two. Complications can include inflammation of the brain and seizures following recovery.

Nipah virus from an infected VERO cell

Transmission

The virus is typically spread between people through direct contact with body fluids. It is also spread from animals such as pigs and bats to humans, with fruit bats being the most common source. Diagnosis is based on symptoms and confirmed by laboratory testing.

Prevention and Treatment

As of 2018, there is no vaccine or treatment that specifically targets Nipah virus infection. Efforts to prevent the infection involve avoiding exposure to bats in areas where the disease is common. When caring for those with the disease, standard infection control measures are important.

Epidemiology

Outbreaks have occurred in Malaysia, Singapore, India, and Bangladesh. The disease was first identified in 1999 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia and Singapore. The name of the virus comes from Sungai Nipah, a village in the Malaysian Peninsula where pig farmers became ill with encephalitis.

See Also

• List of epidemics
• Viral encephalitis

References

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External Links

• World Health Organization's Nipah virus fact sheet

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