Fruit bats that are natural hosts for the Nipah virus (Source: Byrdyak on Freepik)
JAKARTA, KOMPAS TV – The Nipah virus has spread to the state of Kerala, India. An epidemiologist from Griffith University, Australia, Dicky Budiman, revealed that the Nipah virus is categorized as highly pathogenic and has the potential to cause a pandemic. Worse yet, no vaccine or medicine has been found to treat this Nipah virus infection.
In India, the Nipah virus has killed two people, and a child is being treated at a hospital in Kerala. Therefore, several schools there were forced to close, and hundreds of people had to undergo tests.
But actually, what is the Nipah virus?
Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus that can be transmitted from animals to humans, and in some cases, can spread from human to human.
Origin of the Nipah Virus
The Nipah virus was first identified in a pig farm in Malaysia in 1998. At that time, several types of animals on the farm showed symptoms of fever, difficulty breathing and seizures.
According to World Health Organizations (WHO), the virus originated from fruit bats which were transmitted to pigs during large-scale deforestation, causing the bat population to move closer to livestock areas.
Pigs that have been infected can transmit the Nipah virus to farmers, and farmers can also transmit it to fellow humans. This easy transmission process is what makes the Nipah virus suspected to have the potential to become a pandemic.
How the Nipah Virus is Transmitted
The Nipah virus is included in the Paramyxovirus group and can be transmitted through the body fluids of infected animals such as saliva, blood and urine.
Apart from that, consuming undercooked meat from infected animals can also cause infection. Human-to-human transmission can also occur through contact with infected patients.
Also Read: Recognize the Nipah Virus, Symptoms, and How to Prevent Transmission
Signs and Symptoms of Nipah Virus Infection
Author : Almarani Anantar Editor : Iman-Firdaus
Source: Indonesian Ministry of Health, WHO
2023-09-20 00:18:00
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