Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus (it is transmitted from animals to humans) and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people.
The name, Nipah, is derived from the village in Malaysia where the person from whom the virus was first isolated succumbed to the disease. The Nipah virus was first recognized in 1999 during an outbreak among pig farmers in, Malaysia.
Natural host: fruit bats
Fruit bats, also known as ‘flying foxes,’ of the genus Pteropus are the natural hosts for Nipah virus. The virus is present in bat urine and potentially, bat feces, saliva, and birthing fluids.
Although Nipah virus has cause only a few known outbreaks, it infects a wide range of animals and causes severe disease and death in people, making it a public health concern. The case fatality rate is estimated at 40% to 75%.
“This article is just for educational purposes only”
Nipah Virus 2023 – Kerala India
Between 12 and 15 September 2023, a total of six laboratory-confirmed cases of Nipah virus infection including two deaths were reported by the State Government of Kerala. All confirmed cases were males within the age range of 9 to 45 years old and were reported within the Kozhikode district of Kerala.
Source: WHO: Nipah virus Infection 2023 outbreak – Kerala India