30/01/2026
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🟣 Nipah Virus Infection – Causes, Spread, Symptoms & Prevention
What is Nipah Virus?
→ Nipah virus is a zoonotic RNA virus (from the Henipavirus family)
→ It spreads from animals to humans, and sometimes human to human
→ It can cause severe brain infection (encephalitis) and serious breathing problems
→ Fatality rate is high (about 40–75%) in reported outbreaks
🟣 Where does Nipah virus come from?
→ Natural reservoir: Fruit bats (Pteropus bats)
→ Virus is present in bat saliva, urine, and droppings
People can get infected by:
→ Eating fruits contaminated by bats
→ Drinking raw date palm sap contaminated by bat secretions
→ Close contact with infected pigs (amplifying host)
→ Direct contact with infected people (caregivers, family members)
🟣 How does Nipah spread?
→ Animal to human:
→ Contaminated fruit or raw date palm sap
→ Contact with infected pigs
→ Human to human:
→ Close contact with body fluids (saliva, respiratory secretions, urine, blood)
→ Respiratory droplets during close care (not efficiently airborne like COVID)
Important:
→ Nipah does NOT spread easily in the community
→ Requires close and prolonged contact
🟣 Signs & Symptoms
Symptoms usually appear 4–14 days after exposure
🧠 Neurological (brain-related):
→ Fever
→ Headache
→ Confusion
→ Seizures
→ Encephalitis
→ Coma (in severe cases)
🫁 Respiratory:
→ Cough
→ Shortness of breath
→ Acute respiratory distress
🤢 General:
→ Muscle pain
→ Vomiting
→ Extreme weakness
🟣 Serious Complications
→ Acute encephalitis (brain swelling)
→ Respiratory failure
→ Multiorgan dysfunction
→ High risk of death if untreated
🟣 Prevention (No specific cure or vaccine)
→ Avoid raw date palm sap
→ Wash fruits thoroughly before eating
→ Avoid sick animals and animal carcasses
→ Practice good hand hygiene
→ Use masks and PPE during outbreaks
→ Isolate infected patients early
→ Supportive hospital care is currently the only treatment
Early detection + isolation greatly reduces spread.
🟣 Key Medical Facts (Simple Summary)
→ Nipah is deadly but spreads slowly
→ Needs close contact to infect
→ Main danger is brain infection
→ No approved vaccine yet
→ Prevention is the best protection
⚕️ Medical Disclaimer:
This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis or treatment.
