World health officials are on alert after five cases of a deadly vat-borne virus were recorded in India sparking fears of the potential for Covid-like pandemic. Nipah (NiV infection) virus, like Covid-19, is thought to originate in bats and it is zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans.
In the latest outbreak almost 100 people have reportedly been quarantined in the Indian state of West Bengal this month. According to media reports in the county, all five confirmed cases are among healthcare workers. There is no proven, specific treatment for Nipah, and there is currently no preventative vaccine.
The fatality rate is between 40% to 75% depending on local medical facilities, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Nipah virus has incubation period of between four to 21 days before full symptoms develop.
It said: “Typically, patients present with a sudden onset, non-specific flu-like or febrile illness. Pneumonia and other respiratory manifestations have also been described as a feature, but their onset appears to be variable.”
The UKHSA said the most critical and deadly aspect of the disease was that it can trigger encephalitis, a potentially deadly swelling of the brain inside the skull.
Symptoms of this aspect of the disease can include; confusion or disorientation, seizures or fits, changes in personality and behaviour, difficulty speaking, weakness or loss of movement in some parts of the body and loss of consciousness.
The UKHSA added: “Encephalitis or meningitis are a key hallmark of NiV infection, with associated symptoms usually developing after three to 21 days from illness onset. Cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities are similar to those seen in other acute viral central nervous system infections.”
A disturbing legacy if a patient survives Nipah can be “personality changes” and “persistent seizures”.
In some cases patients who recover from the first bout of Nipah have been reported to suffer encephalitis again “due to relapse or reactivation of virus” months or even years after initial exposures.
There have never been any confirmed cases of Nipah in the UK, according to the UKHSA, but travellers heading to affected regions are advised to “avoid contact with bats and their environments, and sick animals”. Consumption of raw or partially fermented date palm sap should also be avoided, as well as eating any fruit which may have been partially consumed by an animal.
Any suspected cases in England must be discussed with local infection specialists and with the Imported Fever Service (IFS) (24 hour telephone service: 0844 778 8990).
