Nipah Virus (NiV): Comprehensive Notes for UPSC

Understanding the Nipah Virus

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nipah Virus (NiV) infection is a newly discovered zoonosis that causes severe disease in both humans and animals. The Nipah virus is an RNA virus belonging to the Henipavirus genus. The disease caused by this virus is characterized by a rapid spread and a high mortality rate, with death rates in infected patients reaching up to 70%.

• The Nipah Virus is transmitted through the air and can infect individuals who come into direct contact with infected animals, such as pigs or bats carrying the virus.
• Bats infected with the virus shed it through their excreta and secretions. Human-to-human transmission of the virus has also been documented.
• NiV can also cause disease in pigs and other domestic animals.
• Direct contact with pigs is the primary mode of transmission of the virus to humans.

Origin of Nipah Virus

• The virus was first identified in Kampung Sungai Nipah in Malaysia and in Singapore in 1998.
• In this initial outbreak, the virus primarily infected pigs and was transmitted to humans through them.
• The World Health Organisation identifies fruit bats of the Pteropodidae Family, Pteropus genus as the natural hosts of the virus.

Nipah Virus and its Relationship with Fruit Bats

• Fruit bats are part of the Pteropodidae Family – Pteropus genus.
• They are also commonly referred to as flying foxes.
• These bats are native to South East Asia.
• The Nipah Virus can survive in the bat's body without causing disease, thus enabling it to infect susceptible mammals like humans or pigs when bats come into contact with them.
• Antibodies to the Nipah Virus were found in the Indian Flying Fox during an outbreak in Bangladesh.

The Indian Flying Fox, a host to over 50 viruses, is part of the diverse world of bats, which comprise 20% of the earth’s mammalian diversity. The act of flying elevates the body temperatures of bats, enhancing their immune responses and enabling them to survive the harmful effects of microbes.

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Symptoms of Nipah Virus Infection

• The Nipah Virus is typically associated with inflammation of the brain. As a result, several days of fever can often progress to a state of confusion, disorientation, and even persistent drowsiness.
• Encephalitis may also manifest as an acute or late-onset condition and can be a fatal complication of NiV infection.
• Neurological, respiratory, and pulmonary signs are also common in an infected individual.
• Some common signs and symptoms of NiV infection include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, fever, headache, and mental issues such as confusion.

Treatment Options for Nipah Virus

To date, no vaccine has been developed to cure the infection in either humans or animals. The main form of treatment for human cases is intensive supportive care and the administration of supportive medicines.

Nipah Virus in India

• The first outbreak of the Nipah Virus in India occurred in Siliguri in 2001, followed by another outbreak in Nadia, West Bengal in 2007.
• The 2018 outbreak in Kerala was quickly contained and declared over after it was localized to the Kozhikode and Malappuram districts of Kerala.
• Another case was reported in Kochi in June 2019.

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