India Faces High Mortality Rate due to Nipah Virus Outbreak

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India has faced a Nipah Virus outbreak, which has spread at high speed. On Thursday, it was found to have a fatality rate as high as 75% as said by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Hundreds of people have already been tested, and two have been killed in the country’s southern Kerala state. According to Reuter, 2 adults and a child were transported to the hospital after receiving the positive diagnosis.

“We are testing human beings… and at the same time[,] experts are collecting fluid samples from forested areas that could be the hotspot for the spread,” said Veena George, the state’s health minister, “We are in a stage of hypervigilance and detection.”

According to CDC, “Infection with Nipah virus (NiV) can cause mild to severe disease, including swelling of the brain (encephalitis) and potentially death. Symptoms typically appear in 4-14 days following exposure to the virus. The illness initially presents as 3-14 days of fever and headache and often includes signs of respiratory [disease], such as cough, sore throat, and difficulty breathing. A phase of brain swelling (encephalitis) may follow, where symptoms can include drowsiness, disorientation, and mental confusion, which can rapidly progress to coma within 24-48 hours.”

Public offices, government buildings, and religious institutions are closed in the area where the Nipah virus has been known to appear. The government health official took samples of bat urine, animal droppings, and half-eaten fruit from the region where the first victim lived, Reuters also reported.

Travelers need to be concerned about this Nipha virus; take care of hygiene first-hand by using face masks and frequently wash their hands.