WHAT IS THE NIPAH VIRUS IN INDIA ?

The Nipah virus, often abbreviated as NiV, is a highly contagious and deadly zoonotic virus that belongs to the family Paramyxoviridae. First identified in 1998 during an outbreak in Malaysia, Nipah virus primarily affects both animals and humans, posing a significant public health concern. Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are considered the natural reservoir hosts of this virus. Transmission to humans usually occurs through direct contact with infected animals or consumption of contaminated food, particularly date palm sap that has been contaminated with bat saliva or urine. Human-to-human transmission is also possible through close contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids. Nipah virus infection can lead to a range of clinical manifestations, including fever, respiratory distress, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and, in severe cases, death. There is no specific antiviral treatment for Nipah virus, making prevention and early detection critical. Outbreaks of Nipah virus have