Three key symptoms of deadly Nipah virus as fatality rate surprises experts

Health officials have issued an urgent warning for the public to recognise Nipah virus symptoms as medical professionals express concern that three-quarters of those infected could lose their lives.

The federal health ministry in the Indian state of West Bengal has confirmed two cases, prompting a large-scale quarantine initiative which resulted in approximately 200 individuals who had contact with infected patients being placed in isolation, according to local authorities.

Multiple Asian nations have implemented stricter health checks and enhanced airport monitoring for all arrivals from India.

Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of East Anglia, explained that identifying Nipah at border points proves challenging given the considerable timeframe before symptoms emerge.

• Sudden onset of non-specific flu-like illness or fever
• Pneumonia and other respiratory problems may also develop
• Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or meningitis

Symptoms generally appear between four and 21 days, although extended periods have been documented on occasion. The more severe complication of brain swelling or meningitis manifests three to 21 days following the onset of illness.

The UKHSA cautioned that between 40 and 75 per cent of individuals infected with the Nipah virus will succumb to the disease. Some who recover may experience permanent neurological changes, including ongoing seizures and alterations in personality.

In unusual instances, the virus can become active again months or potentially years following the original infection.

Numerous infections stem from eating fruit or fruit-based products contaminated with the faeces, urine or saliva of infected fruit bats. Human-to-human transmission can occur when individuals are in close contact with an infected person or their bodily fluids.

Cases have been recorded in India and Bangladesh, with infected individuals typically comprising family members and close contacts providing care to those who are ill. Sadly, no proven specific treatment exists for Nipah virus infection, and no preventative vaccine is currently licensed for use.

Professor Hunter said: “Although Nipah is a very serious infection, it is unlikely to pose a significant risk of global spread as the risk of person-to-person transmission is low. The R0 (the number of people that one infected person will pass on a virus to) is less than 1.0. Nevertheless, we cannot be complacent as we have seen recently, some viruses can mutate to increased infectivity. Also the long incubation period makes detection at borders very difficult.”

The UK has not detected any cases of the Nipah virus.