Nipah virus is a deadly and emerging zoonotic disease that poses a serious threat to human and animal health.

What is Nipah virus?

Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus, which means it can be transmitted from animals to humans. It is usually carried by fruit bats, which are the natural reservoirs of the virus. However, it can also spread through contaminated food or direct contact with infected people or animals.

NiV can cause severe and often fatal disease in humans and animals. The symptoms of NiV infection include fever, headache, drowsiness, respiratory distress, and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). There is no specific treatment or vaccine for NiV infection, and the only way to prevent it is by avoiding exposure to the virus.

How did the outbreak start in Kerala?

The current outbreak of NiV in Kerala, a state in southern India, was detected on September 5, 2023, when a 12-year-old boy died of the infection at a hospital in Kozhikode district. The boy had reportedly consumed rambutan fruit from his backyard, which might have been contaminated by bat saliva or urine.

Since then, four more cases have been confirmed in Kerala, including a 24-year-old health worker who treated the boy, a 9-year-old girl who was his neighbor, and two relatives of the girl. Two of them have died, while the other two are undergoing treatment. The health worker is asymptomatic and under observation.

What are the measures taken to contain the outbreak?

The Kerala government has declared a state of high alert and taken several measures to contain the outbreak and prevent its spread. These include:

Closing schools and offices in some parts of Kozhikode district until September 24.
Declaring seven villages as containment zones and restricting the movement of people and vehicles.
Identifying and testing more than 900 contacts of the confirmed cases, including 213 high-risk contacts who have been asked to remain at home and monitor their health.
Setting up isolation wards and intensive care units at designated hospitals and providing personal protective equipment to health workers.
Conducting awareness campaigns and distributing pamphlets on NiV prevention and control among the public.
Collecting samples of fruits, animals, and bats from the affected areas and sending them for laboratory testing.

What are the challenges faced by Kerala?

Kerala is not new to NiV outbreaks. It has faced three previous outbreaks since 2018, which claimed a total of 18 lives. However, each outbreak poses new challenges for the state, which has also been grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic for more than a year.

Some of the challenges faced by Kerala in dealing with the current NiV outbreak are:

The difficulty in tracing the source and mode of transmission of the virus, as it can vary depending on the ecological and epidemiological factors.
The lack of rapid diagnostic tests and specific antiviral drugs for NiV infection, which limits the options for early detection and treatment.
The risk of nosocomial transmission (spread within health-care settings), as seen in the case of the health worker who contracted the virus from the boy.
The stigma and fear associated with NiV infection, which may deter people from seeking medical help or reporting symptoms.
The need to balance the resources and efforts between NiV outbreak response and Covid-19 management, as both diseases pose serious threats to public health.

How can NiV outbreak be prevented in the future?

NiV outbreak is a complex and unpredictable event that requires a multidisciplinary and multisectoral approach to prevent and control. Some of the possible ways to prevent NiV outbreak in the future are:

Strengthening surveillance and monitoring systems for early detection and reporting of NiV cases and contacts.
Enhancing laboratory capacity and research for developing rapid diagnostic tests and effective antiviral drugs for NiV infection.
Implementing biosecurity measures and infection prevention and control practices at health-care facilities and animal farms.
Promoting community engagement and risk communication strategies to raise awareness and reduce stigma and fear among people about NiV infection.
Improving coordination and collaboration among different stakeholders, including health authorities, wildlife experts, veterinarians, farmers, media, and civil society organizations.

Conclusion

Nipah virus is a deadly and emerging zoonotic disease that poses a serious threat to human and animal health. Kerala, a state in India, has been facing recurrent outbreaks of NiV since 2018, with the latest one occurring in September 2023. The state has taken various measures to contain the outbreak and prevent its spread, but also faces several challenges in dealing with the virus. To prevent future outbreaks, there is a need for strengthening surveillance, laboratory, and research capacity, implementing biosecurity and infection control practices, promoting community engagement and risk communication, and improving coordination and collaboration among different stakeholders.

Also Read: How does Nipah virus affect humans and animals?