Togiveyouthebestpossibleexperience,thissiteusescookies.Ifyoucontinuebrowsing,youacceptouruseofcookies.Youcanreviewourprivacypolicytofindoutmoreaboutthecookiesweuse.NipahVirusPhotoBy:CarolScottDescriptionNipahVirus(NiV)isaviralinfectioncausedbytheHenipavirusgenusbelongingtotheParamyxovidaefamily.Itisazoonosis–ananimaldiseasethatcanspreadtohumans–transmittedbyinfectedfruitbats(Pteropus).Batscantransmitthevirusthroughinfectedairdroplets,saliva,andexcrement.Animalscanbecomeinfectedbyeatingfoodcontaminatedbybatsandcantransmitthevirustootheranimals,includinghumans.HumancaseshaveoccurredaftercontactwithrespiratorysecretionsandtissuesfromNiV-infectedpigs.Transmissioncanalsooccurbydrinkingrawdatepalmsapcontaminatedwithinfectedbatexcretions.PersontopersontransmissionofNiVoccurswhencomingintocontactwiththebloodandbodilysecretionsofinfectedpersonsorcadaverswithoutproperinfectioncontrolgear(masks,gloves,andgowns)orcomingindirectcontactwithunsterilizedmedicalinstruments,infectedbloodproductsandorgans.RiskRiskofNipahVirusispresentinSouthEastAsiaandMadagascar.Caveexplorersandminingworkersareathigherriskofexposure.Personsworkinginhealthcaresettingsarealsoatgreaterrisk,especiallyifworkinginunhygienicconditionsandadequateprotectiveequipmentisnotavailable.SymptomsInsomecases,theinfectionisasymptomatic–personsdonotexhibitsymptoms.Thosewithsymptomsusuallybecomeill4to14daysafterexposure.Flu-likesymptomsoffever,sorethroat,vomiting,headaches,andmusclepainoccurfor3to14daysandarefollowedbyneurologicalsymptomssuchasdrowsiness,confusion,anddisorientation.Inseverecases,theinfectioncancauseseizuresandthebraintoswell,leadingtoacomawithin24to48hours.Inapproximately20%ofpatientsthatrecover,neurologicalsymptomscanpersistsuchasseizuresorchangedpersonality.Currently,supportivecareofsymptomsistheonlywaytotreattheinfection.PreventionTravellersgoingtoaffectedareasshouldrefrainfromvisitinghouseholdsorhealthcaresettingsthathavebeenaffectedbyaNipahVirusoutbreak.Thosewhocareforpatientswithsuspectedorconfirmed