Nipah Virus: Nipah virus has put people in panic in Kerala. Meanwhile, there is news that India will buy 20 more doses of monoclonal antibodies from Australia for the treatment of Nipah virus infection. This information has been given by Rajiv Bahl, Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Amidst the recurring cases of Nipah virus infection in Kerala and the death rate being much higher than Corona infection, Rajiv Bahl said that ICMR is also working on a plan to prepare a vaccine to deal with this infectious disease. He said that the mortality rate of infected people in Nipah is very high (between 40 to 70 percent), whereas during the Corona period the mortality rate was 2-3 percent.
Some doses of monoclonal antibodies were received from Australia in 2018
Further, ICMR Director General Rajiv Bahl said that we received some doses of monoclonal antibodies from Australia in 2018. Currently the doses can be used to treat only 10 patients. Monoclonal antibodies were given to 14 patients infected with Nipah virus outside India and all of them have survived. Only Phase-1 trials have been conducted to determine the safety of the drug. Efficacy has not been tested. He said that it can be given only to those patients for whom there is no authorized satisfactory treatment method. According to him, this medicine has not been given to anyone in India till now.
ICMR Director General said that 20 more doses are being purchased. But there is a need to give medicine in the initial stage of infection only. He stressed that every possible effort is being made to stop the spread of the virus in Kerala. He said that all the patients have been infected by coming in contact with the ‘index patient’ (the first patient to confirm the infection).
Know what is Nipah virus?
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nipah virus was first detected in Kampung Sungai Nipah, Malaysia in 1998. From here it got its name Nipah virus. At that time, some pig farmers had brain fever. Therefore, the pig was said to be the carrier of this serious disease. It was also revealed in Singapore in 1999. It first affects pigs, bats or other creatures. After this, it also infects the humans who come in contact with it.
How does Nipah virus spread?
Talking about Nipah virus, it spreads to humans through direct contact with infected bats, infected pigs or other NiV infected people, which falls in the category of a serious infection. The infection is also transmitted through fruit bats or flying foxes, which are natural reservoirs of Hendra and Nepah viruses. This virus is present in the urine, feces, saliva and delivery fluid of bats.
Know what are the symptoms of Nipah virus infection
-In the initial stages of Nipah virus infection, there is problem in breathing. Half of the patients also have neurological problems.
Fever, headache, mental confusion, vomiting and unconsciousness trouble those infected with Nipah virus.
In humans, Nipah virus is associated with encephalitis, which causes swelling in the brain.
– It usually takes five to fourteen days for the symptoms of infection to appear.
– Due to increase in infection, the patient can go into coma and after this the person can also die.