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What is nipah virus infection?
Nipah virus infection is a disease that can spread from animals to humans, and in some cases, it can also spread through contaminated food or directly between humans.
Nipah virus was first identified during an outbreak among people with close contact with infected pigs in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998-1999. Many cases during this outbreak had neurological symptoms, but transmission between humans was not observed. In subsequent outbreaks in Bangladesh and India, limited human to human transmission has been reported.
How is nipah virus transmitted?
Animal-to-human transmission may occur through:
Direct contact with infected animals, such as bats and pigs, or their bodily fluids or excretions
Consumption of raw date palm sap or fruits contaminated by saliva or urine of infected bats
Limited human-to-human transmission of Nipah virus among family, caregivers, community contacts, and healthcare providers of infected patients though close contact with their secretions and excretions has been documented.
What are the symptoms of nipah virus?
Persons infected with nipah virus may present with acute encephalitis with initial symptoms of fever, headache, myalgia, vomiting and sore throat, followed by dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, seizures and coma. Infected persons may also develop atypical pneumonia and acute respiratory distress.
What are the risk factors?
Risk factors include:
Travel history to affected countries or regions with ongoing Nipah virus outbreaks
Exposure to bats or bat-contaminated food or pigs
Exposure to person infected with Nipah virus
Consumption of sap or other products from palm trees
How is nipah virus treated?
There are no specific treatment or vaccines available. Treatment is mainly supportive.
How to prevent nipah virus?
To reduce risk of exposure, travellers to nipah virus affected countries are advised to maintain vigilance and adopt the following health precautions:
Observe good personal hygiene by washing hands regularly with soap and water
Avoid contact with pigs and bats
Stay away from areas where bats tend to gather
Do not eat or drink products that could be contaminated by bats, such as raw date palm sap or fruit that is found on the ground
Avoid contact with blood or body fluids from anyone known to be infected with nipah virus
Travellers with any risk exposure e.g. to bat droppings in Nipah virus-affected areas are advised to seek medical advice immediately. Individuals who feel unwell during or after their trip should wear a mask and seek medical attention promptly. They should inform their doctor about of their recent travel to nipah virus-affected areas and any potential exposures.
Please refer to Health Advice for Travellers for the full list of precautions to take when travelling.