30/01/2026
With the outbreak of the Nipah virus, it’s natural to feel concerned or anxious. However, this situation also underscores the importance of staying informed and relying on accurate information so we can better protect ourselves and our families. Below is some key information about the Nipah virus:
📍Where was it first recognized?
It was first discovered in 1999 in Malaysia during an outbreak among pig farms. It had been reported to occur in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore only.
📍How is it transmitted?
It is a zoonotic virus harbored by fruit bats of the Pteropus genus, commonly known as flying foxes, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. Transmission may also occur through contaminated food, direct contact with an infected animal, or close contact with the body fluids of an infected person
📍What are the signs and symptoms?
Once infected, a person may experience an asymptomatic infection, or they can acquire an acute respiratory infection (mild, severe), or fatal encephalitis.
In the initial stage, an individual may experience fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and sore throat. These symptoms may later progress to dizziness, drowsiness, altered mental status, and other neurological manifestations indicative of acute encephalitis. Some patients may also develop atypical pneumonia and severe respiratory complications. In severe cases, encephalitis and seizures can rapidly develop within 24 to 48 hours.
The incubation period ranges from 4 to 14 days.
📍How fatal is the Nipah Virus?
The fatality rate is estimated at 40% to 75%. Most people who survive acute encephalitis recover fully but are left with long-term neurologic conditions like seizure disorder and personality changes, while some subsequently relapse or develop delayed-onset encephalitis.
📍Is there a treatment?
Currently, there is no cure for the Nipah Virus, which is why it is crucial for people infected with the virus to be given critical care to treat severe respiratory and neurological complications.
A lack of accurate information can lead to fear and panic, which is why we must first learn reliable facts to help us prepare and boost our body's defenses for optimal health.
Read more here: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/nipah-virus
