Nipah virus infection

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Nipah virus infection is a viral infection caused by the Nipah virus. Symptoms from infection vary from none to fever, cough, headache, shortness of breath, and confusion. This may worsen into a coma over a day or two. Complications can include inflammation of the brain and seizures following recovery.

Error creating thumbnail:
Nipah virus from an infected VERO cell

Transmission[edit | edit source]

The virus is typically spread between people through direct contact with body fluids. It is also spread from animals such as pigs and bats to humans, with fruit bats being the most common source. Diagnosis is based on symptoms and confirmed by laboratory testing.

Prevention and Treatment[edit | edit source]

As of 2018, there is no vaccine or treatment that specifically targets Nipah virus infection. Efforts to prevent the infection involve avoiding exposure to bats in areas where the disease is common. When caring for those with the disease, standard infection control measures are important.

Epidemiology[edit | edit source]

Outbreaks have occurred in Malaysia, Singapore, India, and Bangladesh. The disease was first identified in 1999 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia and Singapore. The name of the virus comes from Sungai Nipah, a village in the Malaysian Peninsula where pig farmers became ill with encephalitis.

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


External Links[edit | edit source]

Nipah virus infection Resources

Contributors: Kondreddy Naveen