Nipah Virus (NiV)
Why it Matters?
Amid the Nipah scare, Kerala health officials advised avoiding hospital visits in Malappuram and Palakkad, with 609 people under observation and containment zones declared.
What You Should Know?
Nipah Virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus, meaning it spreads from animals to humans.
It belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family and Henipavirus genus.
NiV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus from the Henipavirus genus of the Paramyxoviridae family, with key proteins like N, P, M, F, G, and L aiding infection.
In severe cases, it progresses to drowsiness, seizures, and acute encephalitis, possibly leading to coma within 48 hours.
It is detected using Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Serum Neutralisation Test (SNT).
There is no approved vaccine or antiviral for NiV currently.
Supportive care is the main treatment, and Ribavirin (a broad-spectrum antiviral) may help in reducing mortality in encephalitis cases.