What Are the Symptoms of Nipah Virus? As India Scrambles to Contain Deadly Outbreak

A rare and highly lethal pathogen has once again surfaced in India, placing health authorities on high alert as they race to prevent a wider escalation. With a fatality rate that can reach up to 75 per cent, the Nipah virus represents one of the most significant threats to public health in the region.

Here's what you need to know about the deadly outbreak, including the signs and symptoms to watch out for.

Nipah Virus: Warning Signs and Symptoms

The Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic pathogen that causes severe disease in both animals and humans. According to the World Health Organisation, the infection presents a diverse clinical range, from asymptomatic subclinical infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis.

Initial symptoms often appear between four and 14 days after exposure and include fever, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting, and sore throat. These early signs are frequently mistaken for more common seasonal illnesses, which can delay diagnosis and put patients at risk.

As the disease progresses, patients may experience more severe neurological complications, including dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, and acute encephalitis. In severe cases, the virus can cause brain inflammation, leading to seizures, coma, or death within 24 to 48 hours, per the CDC.

Transmission & Precaution

Transmission typically occurs through direct contact with infected animals, such as fruit bats or pigs, or via the consumption of contaminated food. In previous outbreaks, raw date palm sap contaminated with bat secretions has been identified as a primary source of spillover.

Human-to-human transmission is also a significant concern, particularly in healthcare settings where close contact with bodily fluids of infected patients occurs. To mitigate the risk, health experts advise the following precautions:

• Wash your hands with soap and water
• Avoid contact with bats or sick pigs
• Avoid areas where bats roost or
• Do not touch anything that bats could soil
• Do not drink raw date palm sap or consume fruit that may have been contaminated by bats
• Avoid close contact with people who are infected with the Nipah virus

There is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for Nipah virus infection. Supportive care to treat complications is the main approach to managing the infection. The public is urged to take the necessary precautions seriously.

India Scrambles to Contain the Latest Pathogen Outbreak

The Indian government has deployed rapid response teams to West Bengal following the confirmation of new cases in the region. Authorities have prioritised the isolation of suspected patients and the rigorous monitoring of hundreds of contacts to break the chain of transmission.

According to the health ministry, the contacts of individuals infected with the Nipah virus had been 'identified, traced, monitored, and tested' and they were asymptomatic, BBC reported. 'The situation is under constant monitoring, and all necessary public health measures are in place,' the ministry stated.

Due to the rise in Nipah virus cases in India, several countries have already stepped up precautions. Thailand has started screening passengers from West Bengal arriving in Bangkok and Phuket.

Jurai Wongswasdi, the spokesperson for Thailand's Department of Disease Control, told the BBC they were 'fairly confident' about their efforts to keep the country free of Nipah virus. Taiwan has also proposed to list the Nipah virus as a 'Category 5 disease'. Diseases in this category require immediate reporting and special control measures because they present major public health risks.

No cases of Nipah virus have yet been reported outside India.