LEARN ALL ABOUT NIPAH VIRUS & KNOW HOW YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF

May 23, 2018

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Greater short-nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus sphinx)

While the death toll due to the deadly Nipah virus, that broke out in Kozhikode, Kerala is on the rise, so is the panic surrounding it.

There are multiple misinformed Whatsapp forwards doing the rounds which are not only adding to the fear but are also gravely misleading. It becomes more important to be armed with solid facts and not be swayed by fiction.

Here’s all you need to know about the Nipah virus and how you can avoid getting sick:

What is Nipah Virus?

Nipah virus is an infectious disease that causes severe illness in animals and humans. It spreads through infected fruit bats, pigs, or from other infected people.

Nipah virus is fairly new. The virus was first identified in 1998 in Malaysia and pigs were identified as the intermediate host. It spread to humans after they came in contact with pig feces and excretions. The virus has also been found in species of domestic animals including dogs, cats, goats, horses, and sheep after they came in contact with pigs.

Symptoms & Treatment

Some of the symptoms of this disease are fever, headache, drowsiness, disorientation, mental confusion and in certain cases, coma. Once diagnosed, the patient must be kept in total isolation.

There is still no vaccination available for this virus so the treatment is largely focused on managing fever and neurological symptoms.

How Can You Avoid Getting Sick?

Since the Nipah virus can spread if you come in contact with infected animals or people, it is very important to maintain high levels of personal hygiene.
Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly and cover your mouth if you are in an infected area.
It is important to beware of the symptoms and report any initial symptoms to the doctor immediately for early diagnosis and treatment.
The primary carrier of this virus are fruit bats and they often drop half-eaten fruits which might be consumed by other animals or humans and spread the infection. So it is advised that you avoid consuming pork or drinking date palm sap in the infected areas.
Avoid eating fruits in the infected areas till source of infection is identified.

And most importantly, don’t panic! It’s always important to be aware and take preventive measures.