The entire world is currently in the midst of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic, which has infected nearly 100 million people and caused nearly 2 million deaths to date. As if that were not enough, scientists believe Asia may soon face another viral threat with a significantly higher death rate. It is the Nipah virus, which was first recognized in 1999 and has been present in small epidemic outbreaks for 20 years. Why did scientists pay attention to him?
- The Nipah virus has been circulating around Asia and Australia for 20 years. Every year there are small outbreaks of infection
- Mortality due to infection with this virus reaches up to 75 percent.
- Scientists indicate that the greatest threat is the incubation period of the virus, which can be up to 45 days, allowing for an unusually long transmission time
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Nipah virus – what do we know about it?
The Nipah virus was first recognized in 1999 following an outbreak in Malaysia. There were then 265 cases of acute encephalitis associated with pig farms. Initially, the patients were suspected of having Japanese encephalitis, but after detailed examination, the disease was identified as infection with the Nipah virus. Since then, in the years 2000-2020, there were small outbreaks of this infection every year, incl. in Malaysia, Singapore, India and Northern Australia. Most importantly, the death rate in the case of Nipah virus infection is as high as 75 percent.
The Nipah virus belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family, which also includes the measles, mumps and parainfluenza viruses. It is mainly transmitted through direct contact with infected bats or pigs and their secretions. The virus can also spread from person to person.
The virus causes inflammation of the brain. The main symptoms are fever and headaches lasting 3-14 days, and excessive sleepiness, confusion and confusion. Although the Nipah virus was first identified 20 years ago, there is no effective causal treatment – only symptoms are treated.
Why could a virus with such a high death rate have pandemic potential, according to the scientists? Usually, diseases such as this kill their hosts too quickly, greatly reducing the possibility of the infection spreading further and greatly reducing the pandemic potential. However, there is something in the Nipah virus that is of great concern to scientists.
See also: Scientists have discovered six previously unknown coronaviruses. Their carriers are bats
Nipah virus dormant for 45 days
The Nipah virus, although a zoonotic pathogen, differs from many other viruses. Symptoms of infection usually appear between 4 and 14 days, but what is important and dangerous – the virus can incubate for an extremely long time. The WHO reports that it can be as long as 45 days – which allows for an extremely long transfer period.
After the incubation is finished, the first symptoms of infection appear – headaches, fever and vomiting. The symptoms are not specific and can easily be confused with other illnesses such as the flu. This is followed by dizziness and other neurological symptoms as well as acute encephalitis. Survivors of infection may develop long-term neurological problems, including personality changes.
Comforting about the Nipah virus is that the current strains cannot be transmitted by aerosols, so they are unlikely to pose the same level of pandemic risk as viruses such as SARS-CoV-2.
The study and further analysis of viruses such as Nipah will enable the world to be better prepared for emerging viral threats. Virologist Veasna Duong in an interview for the BBC emphasized the importance of education in this field.
— 60 percent people we spoke to did not know that bats transmit disease. Knowledge is still lacking She said and added, “We are watching fruit bats here in Thailand, at markets, places of worship, schools and tourist facilities like Angkor Wat.” In a normal year, Angkor Wat hosts 2,6 million visitors. That’s 2,6 million potential chances of the Nipah virus jumping from bats to humans in just one place.
Experts around the world have warned that the COVID-19 pandemic should serve as a wake-up call for governments around the world to prepare for future epidemics and learn how to prevent them.
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