The Nipah Virus Outbreak in India: Symptoms, Prevention, and Risks

Liputan6.com, Jakarta – India is wary of the Nipah virus or NiV. It was reported that on Thursday 14 September 2023, 2 people died infected with the Nipah virus in Kozhikode District, Kerala State, India.

Apart from that, 3 people also tested positive for the Nipah virus. Currently more than 700 people, including 153 health workers who were in contact with infected people, are under surveillance.

As a result of the NiV outbreak again, India is limiting public gatherings. Several schools were also closed in Kerala, a state in southern India.

According to the World Health Organization or WHO, this virus, which originates from bats or pigs, can cause fever with a mortality rate of around 40-75 percent. So far, no vaccine has been found to treat the Nipah virus.

WHO also explained that apart from being transmitted from animals such as bats or pigs, the Nipah virus also spreads from person to person. The incubation period from infection to the appearance of symptoms ranges from 4-14 days, but it has also been reported as long as 45 days.

For your information, the Nipah virus first appeared in Malaysia in 1999. At that time more than 100 people died, triggering the culling of 1 million pigs.

This virus then spread to Singapore. It was recorded that there were 11 cases and 1 person died.

The Nipah virus is also endemic in Bangladesh with more than 100 people killed since 2001. NiV has also been detected in India since 2018.

How dangerous is the Nipah virus for humans? What are the symptoms and prevention? Read more in the following series of infographics:

2023-09-20 02:02:08
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