A senior doctor has revealed that the Nipah virus is endemic in Kerala and West Bengal. Dr Narendra Kumar Arora, the President of AIIMS Bilaspur and Chairman of India’s Covid-19 Working Group, said that both states have witnessed several outbreaks of the Nipah virus in the past.
Talking in an interview, Dr Arora said that the current outbreak of the Nipah virus in West Bengal was first noticed in five health workers. These workers were infected when a patient died of a mysterious disease. The health department is now testing 100 to 200 people who may have come into contact with the virus.
Dr Arora said that the Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus, which means that it can be transmitted from animals to humans. The primary carriers of the virus are fruit bats. He said that the Nipah virus is highly contagious and very deadly, with a mortality rate of 40% to 75%. The infected person may suffer from brain infection (encephalitis) or severe respiratory illness.
He also mentioned that there is no vaccine available for the Nipah virus currently. The treatment is largely dependent on monoclonal antibodies, which need to be administered promptly after the diagnosis. However, the supply of these antibodies is very limited.
Dr. Arora further added that India is making sure that there is an adequate supply of monoclonal antibodies in the country. He emphasized the need for being more cautious in regions where fruit bats are found in large numbers and advised against unnecessary interaction between humans and animals to prevent the spread of the disease.
The health department has advised people to remain cautious and report any symptoms at an early stage to control the spread of the disease.
