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Nipah Virus Symptoms

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah virus is zoonotic, meaning it crosses from animals into humans. There have only been a limited number of outbreaks (as of 2009, all had occurred in South Asia, according to the WHO), but infection with the virus is serious and can lead to encephalitis and respiratory problems.

  1. Effects

    • According to the WHO, some people infected with Nipah do not develop symptoms. Those that do can develop a flu-like illness with symptoms like fever and headaches, sore throat and pain in the muscles. Later symptoms may include dizziness, tiredness, changes in consciousness. The WHO reports that these may be signs of encephalitis, swelling of the brain.

      Some people can also experience atypical pneumonia and severe respiratory problems, including acute respiratory distress. Encephalitis and seizures occur in severe cases, progressing to coma within 24 to 48 hours.

    Hosts

    • According to CIDRAP (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy), Nipah virus is found naturally in the bat species Pteropid. These bats can infect pigs, and through contact with pigs, humans and other animals can become infected; humans can infect other humans, according to the WHO. According to CIDRAP, it is not known whether the disease can be transmitted to humans from animals other than pigs.

    Risk

    • According to the WHO, all of the human outbreaks of Nipah virus have occurred in South Asia, in countries including and limited to Malaysia, Singapore, India and Bangladesh. The percentage of deaths per outbreak has ranged between 9 and 100 percent.

    Complications

    • Complications of Nipah virus may include dizziness, extreme fatigue, and changes in consciousness. The WHO reports that these may be signs of encephalitis, swelling of the brain. Encephalitis can lead to seizures and coma. Nipah virus can also lead to severe respiratory problems. According to the WHO, these include atypical pneumonia and acute respiratory distress, the symptoms of which include difficult and rapid breathing as well as shortness of breath, low blood pressure and organ failure, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

    Treatments

    • According to the WHO, no specific treatment or vaccine is available for the management of Nipah virus. However, according to CIDRAP, the use of the antiviral drug Ribavirin may reduce the severity of encephalitis caused by infection. The CDC recommends avoiding contact with host animals.

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