(NationalUSNews.com) — On Sunday July 21, health authorities in India issued an alert saying that a 14-year-old boy from the town of Pandikkad had died of the Nipah virus. The deadly virus is most commonly found in fruit bats and domesticated animals, many of whom will not show any symptoms. Nipah is a zoonotic virus, which means it can be transmitted between humans and animals. The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the Nipa virus a “priority pathogen,” indicated that they believe it has the potential to trigger a pandemic.
The town of Pandikkad, where the boy died of Nipah, is located in the Indian state of Kerala, which has seen several outbreaks of Nipah in recent years. The Nipah virus comes in two strains, the Malaysian and the Bangladesh strains. The Bangladesh strain has a much higher mortality rate. Although some experts have pointed out that Nipah isn’t as effectively passed from human to human as it is from animal to human, the people in contact with the infected boy are being closely monitored. Over 350 people may have been exposed to the virus through contact with the boy, and already six people are showing symptoms.
Early symptoms include fevers, headaches or coughing. Vomiting, sore throats or muscle pain are also fairly common. Some patients may experience dizziness, drowsiness, or altered consciousness. Death is usually the result of pneumonia, other respiratory issues or acute encephalitis. Brain swelling and seizures from encephalitis can lead to coma within days. There is currently no cure, and treatment is generally limited to managing symptoms.
While some experts are warning about the possibility of a new and more dangerous pandemic, it is important to note that person-to-person transmission is not common with Nipah. Most transmission is from an infected animal, usually a pig or a bat, or from contaminated food. However, with its high mortality rate, people are correct to be wary of the Nipah virus. It was part of the inspiration for the 2011 Hollywood film Contagion. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are currently in the early stages of clinical trials for immunological therapies made of monoclonal antibodies. If these trials are successful, outbreaks of this potentially lethal disease could be far less devastating.
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