29/01/2026
ЁЯЯг Nipah Virus Infection тАУ Causes, Spread, Symptoms & Prevention
What is Nipah Virus?
тЖТ Nipah virus is a zoonotic RNA virus (from the Henipavirus family)
тЖТ It spreads from animals to humans, and sometimes human to human
тЖТ It can cause severe brain infection (encephalitis) and serious breathing problems
тЖТ Fatality rate is high (about 40тАУ75%) in reported outbreaks
ЁЯЯг Where does Nipah virus come from?
тЖТ Natural reservoir: Fruit bats (Pteropus bats)
тЖТ Virus is present in bat saliva, urine, and droppings
People can get infected by:
тЖТ Eating fruits contaminated by bats
тЖТ Drinking raw date palm sap contaminated by bat secretions
тЖТ Close contact with infected pigs (amplifying host)
тЖТ Direct contact with infected people (caregivers, family members)
ЁЯЯг How does Nipah spread?
тЖТ Animal to human:
тЖТ Contaminated fruit or raw date palm sap
тЖТ Contact with infected pigs
тЖТ Human to human:
тЖТ Close contact with body fluids (saliva, respiratory secretions, urine, blood)
тЖТ Respiratory droplets during close care (not efficiently airborne like COVID)
Important:
тЖТ Nipah does NOT spread easily in the community
тЖТ Requires close and prolonged contact
ЁЯЯг Signs & Symptoms
Symptoms usually appear 4тАУ14 days after exposure
ЁЯза Neurological (brain-related):
тЖТ Fever
тЖТ Headache
тЖТ Confusion
тЖТ Seizures
тЖТ Encephalitis
тЖТ Coma (in severe cases)
ЁЯлБ Respiratory:
тЖТ Cough
тЖТ Shortness of breath
тЖТ Acute respiratory distress
ЁЯдв General:
тЖТ Muscle pain
тЖТ Vomiting
тЖТ Extreme weakness
ЁЯЯг Serious Complications
тЖТ Acute encephalitis (brain swelling)
тЖТ Respiratory failure
тЖТ Multiorgan dysfunction
тЖТ High risk of death if untreated
ЁЯЯг Prevention (No specific cure or vaccine)
тЖТ Avoid raw date palm sap
тЖТ Wash fruits thoroughly before eating
тЖТ Avoid sick animals and animal carcasses
тЖТ Practice good hand hygiene
тЖТ Use masks and PPE during outbreaks
тЖТ Isolate infected patients early
тЖТ Supportive hospital care is currently the only treatment
Early detection + isolation greatly reduces spread.
ЁЯЯг Key Medical Facts (Simple Summary)
тЖТ Nipah is deadly but spreads slowly
тЖТ Needs close contact to infect
тЖТ Main danger is brain infection
тЖТ No approved vaccine yet
тЖТ Prevention is the best protection
тЪХя╕П Medical Disclaimer:
This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis or treatment.