Human Nipah virus disease is a life threatening disease with mortality rate of 40-75%.It is a zoonotic disease caused by a paramyxovirus,NIPAH VIRUS,named after a village in Malaysia Sungai Nipah.
The natural reservoir of this virus is large fruit bats of genus Pteropus.Transmission of this virus to human occurs when there is a contact with infected bats,or consuming fruits contaminated with secretions of bats,or infected pigs.Human to Human transmission has ben proved in 2001.
Symptoms of the disease are fever,nausea,vomiting,headache.When the disease progresses,it may cause shortness of breath,and on deterioration ,it may cause,drowsiness,confusion and coma.There may be features of encephalitis.
It is diagnosed by detecting viral antigen by real time PCR,in samples from nasal swab,throat swab,CSF,urine and blood.In the later peroid,antibody may be detected by ELISA.
TREATMENT is mainly symptomatic with supportive care.There is no specific treatment.RIBAVARIN, an antiviral may have role in encephalitis caused by Nipah virus