Over the past 22 years, sporadic outbreaks of the Nipah virus, ... Published: 31 January ,2021: 02:43 PM GST Updated: 31 January ,2021: 03:28 PM GST ... During the first recognized outbreak in Malaysia, which also affected Singapore, most .......AstockimageofaNipahvirusoutbreakinIndia.(Filephoto:Reuters)Anewpandemic?Here’swhathappenedthelasttimeNipahvirusspreadAsiaFollowFollowedUnfollowURLCopiedJenniferBell,AlArabiyaEnglishPublished:31January,2021:02:43PMGSTUpdated:31January,2021:03:28PMGSTURLCopiedOverthepast22years,sporadicoutbreaksoftheNipahvirus,anemerginginfectiousdisease,haspromptedconcernamonginternationalvirologistsandhealthofficials.Firstrecognizedin1999duringanoutbreakamongpigfarmersinMalaysia,theviruswas,overthenextfewyears,reportedacrossAsiannations.ForallthelatestheadlinesfollowourGoogleNewschannelonlineorviatheapp.Thevirushasbeenthrustbackintothespotlight,followingareportbytheAccesstoMedicineFoundation.AsthewaragainsttheCOVID-19pandemicrageson,healthexpertsarewaryofthatNipahvirus(NiV)hasthepotentialtobecomeanewpandemic.ThereportstressesthattheNipahvirusdeservesattentionfromworldhealthexpertsasanoutbreakofthevirusinChina,withafatalityrateofupto75percent,couldpotentiallybethenextbigpandemicriskwithgiantpharmaceuticalcompaniesunpreparedwhilefocusingonCOVID-19.“Nipahvirusisanotheremerginginfectiousdiseasethatcausesgreatconcern.Nipahcouldblowanymoment.Thenextpandemiccouldbeadrug-resistantinfection,”TheGuardianquotedJayasreeKIyer,theexecutivedirectoroftheNetherlands-basedAccesstoMedicineFoundation,assaying.Butwhatisthevirus?Transmittedfromanimalstohumans,thevirusisfoundincontaminatedfood.People,onceinfectedwithNipahcanpassontoothers.Ininfectedpeople,accordingtotheWorldHealthOrganization(WHO),itcausesarangeofillnessesfromasymptomatic(subclinical)infectiontoacuterespiratoryillnessandorfatalcausesofencephalitis,orinflammationofthebrain.Theusualtreatmentissupportivecare.Thennipahvirus(iFilephoto)DuringthefirstrecognizedoutbreakinMalaysia,whichalsoaffectedSingapo