The Origin of Nipah Virus

According to World Health Organization (WHO)WHO, Nipah virus was first identified in Kampung Sungai Nipah, Malaysia in 1998 ago. The name of the village was then used to name the new virus. At that time, of the 265 people infected with the virus Nipah, 105 of them died. In the case of the virus Nipah, the intermediate is a pig, of  90% comes from pig farming environments.

Moved to India in 2001, Siliguri district in West Bengal state was visited by this virus, followed by 2007 in Nadia district. From total 71 cases, 50 people died.

2004 in Bangladesh, the infected occurred after consuming date palms that were contaminated by fruit bats that were previously infected with the Nipah virus. Of the 209 cases, 161 people died.

While the latest case in Kerala shows the process of transmission of Nipah from animal to human (zoonosis) and then inter-human. In total, the Nipah virus has claimed more than 300 people in Malaysia, Singapore, Bangladesh and India between 1998 and 2008.

However, the examination of animal samples of both bats and other domesticated cattle studied at the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal, showed negative results. However, experts at the Department of Health said the results of the tests were still temporary.

Nipah virus infection causes inflammation of the brain called encephalitis. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes, the incubation period of Nipah ranged from 5-14 days, followed by the appearance of the disease between 3-14 days marked by fever and headache, followed by drowsiness, disorientation and confusion.

In the early phase of infection, some patients experience respiratory illness and show some signs of neurological and pulmonary disorders up to a coma within 24-48 hours. These symptoms may subside, but the virus will remain in the body and one day can be active again. Peak, people infected with acute virus by Nipah will die in a matter of months or years.