By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
Media sources in Bangladesh (HERE and HERE) are reporting a Nipah virus infection in the city of Khulna. The reported case is a 20-year-old female who has been hospitalized since last Saturday at the Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH).
Image/Video Screen Shot
“A medical board has confirmed her infection by Nipah virus. As Rashida’s infection is a risk to other patients, she is being treated separately at the hospital’s Medicine unit 1,” said SM Kamal Hossain, chief of KMCH Medicine Department.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in the Bangladesh and India outbreaks, consumption of fruits or fruit products (e.g. raw date palm juice) contaminated with urine or saliva from infected fruitbats was the most likely source of infection. Fruit bats of the family Pteropodidae – particularly species belonging to the Pteropus genus – are the natural hosts for Nipah virus. There is no apparent disease in fruit bats.
In more recent outbreaks of the disease, person-to-person transmission has been seen in Bangladesh and India.
The disease in humans can range from asymptomatic infection to fatal encephalitis. Encephalitis and seizures occur in severe cases, progressing to coma within 24 to 48 hours.
Nipah virus: An introduction
The case fatality rate is estimated at 40% to 75%; however, this rate can vary by outbreak depending on local capabilities for surveillance investigations, according to the WHO.
Related: The World’s Deadliest Viruses
Those who survive acute encephalitis make a full recovery, but around 20% are left with residual neurological consequences such as persistent convulsions and personality changes.
There is no treatment or vaccine available for either people or animals.
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Last statement in the article is not fully correct.
An investigational vaccine against Nipah has entered clinical trials this January. Preclinical studies showed complete protection against Nipah infection. Also, there is a horse vaccine marketed by Zoetis in Australia against Hendra virus since 2012. This vaccine is equally efficient against Nipah virus, although it is not in the specifications. The immunogens in both vaccines are the same. Purification and formulation might differ.
Also there is an antibody that is highly efficient against Nipah disease post infection. The antibody has passed Phase 1 clincal trial in Australia and has passed preclinical studies in the USA. It is matter only to funding to further develop this drug through clinical trials and formal approval for deployment in medical practice.