25/09/2023
What is Nipah virus?
WHO has identified direct contact with sick pigs or contaminated tissues as the primary cause of human infections. It also identified unsafe contact with pig secretion and tissue as transmission methods.
In Bangladesh and India, outbreaks occurred due to consumption of fruits and raw date palm juice contaminated with urine or saliva of infected fruit bats.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah virus infection, a zoonotic illness, is transmitted from animals to humans, with a high fatality rate of 50 to 70 percent, affecting three to four out of five infected individuals.
Filipino infectious disease expert Rontgene Solante emphasized the need for vigilant action against the Nipah virus, despite no recorded cases in the Philippines.
Solante explained that the illnesses caused by the virus range from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis.
"It will really be fatal because of its ability to infect the brain or encephalitis. Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain," Solante said. He said it can also cause a "multi-organ" infection.
Transmission
* Most common mode of transmission to humans is direct contact with bats.
* Person-to-person direct contact or exposure.
Symptoms
* Fever - Nipah virus is a "systemic" type of virus.
* Body pain and severe headaches due to its direct impact on the human brain.
* After two to three days, the infected individual may feel weak and unable to recognize themselves.
No reported cases of Nipah Virus in the Philippines yet.
No vaccine is yet available in PH.
