A teenage Indian lad has sadly passed away from the rare and incurable brain infection known as Nipah virus, which experts warn might start the next world epidemic. Following a heart arrest connected to the virus, the 14-year-old Kerala, southern state of India school student passed away.
High-Risk Observation and Issues
Following this event, health authorities are currently keeping an eye on 214 people who came into touch with the lad; 60 of these contacts are deemed to be highly likely of infection. Because of its high fatality rate and lack of treatment choices, the Nipah virus—a member of the paramyxovirus family—which also includes measles and mumps—alarms specialists. There are worries that it might be silently “simmering in the background” before maybe starting a global epidemic.
Deadly nature of nipah virus
Three out of four infected people die from the Nipah virus, according to data, compared to the less than one percent fatality rate of COVID-19. This is shockingly high death rate. Nipah virus is a major public health issue since no vaccination or particular therapy exists for it right now. With thirty affected, the most recent outbreak in Kerala, the biggest known worldwide, emphasizes the virus’s quick spread and great effect.
Transmission and symptoms
The virus is transmitted by coming into touch with the bodily fluids of sick people—including saliva, blood, feces, and respiratory droplets. Contaminated fruit or direct contact with the excrement of sick pigs can also cause infection; they could then become carriers once food or water contaminated by fruit bat droppings is consumed.
Since Nipah virus mostly affects the respiratory system, patients infected with it usually show fever, coughing, sore throat, and trouble breathing. The possibility of human-to—human transmission of the virus is increased by its ability to pass through respiratory droplets.
Public Health Measures and State Response
Declaring, “The infected boy died on Sunday after a cardiac arrest,” Kerala’s state health minister, Veena George, confirmed the boy’s death. Though health authorities are closely observing close contacts for symptoms with an incubation period of three to seven days, the precise events of how the youngster acquired the virus remain unknown.
Inspired by the Nipah virus, the 2011 movie “Contagion” focused on the virus’s possible worldwide epidemic capacity. Emphasizing the great risks of such diseases, the movie showed a situation whereby a deadly virus brought back from a business trip causes a worldwide epidemic.
Expert Advice and Future Direction
Assistant professor Michael Norris, Ph.D. of the University of Toronto said, “Just imagine if a paramyxovirus emerged that was as contagious as measles and as deadly as Nipah.” This imagined situation emphasizes how urgently the Nipah virus and other paramyxoviruses must be addressed.
At Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine, virologist Benhur Lee underlined the difficulties in creating vaccines and therapies for paramyxovirues. Lee told The Atlantic, “Influenza has been sequenced to death,” noting that the high death rate of paramyxovirus infections hinders efforts at research and development.
Final Thought
The death of the young lad in Kerala from Nipah virus reminds us very strongly of the possible threats presented by newly developing infectious diseases. The world community has to be alert and aggressive in tackling the dangers of highly deadly diseases while health officials keep observing and reacting to this occurrence. Reducing the hazards and stopping next pandemics depend on fast response, open communication, and ongoing study.
