Posted on Sep 7, 2021
What is the Nipah virus and why is it more deadly than COVID? A virus expert explains.
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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/09/07/what-nipah-virus-and-how-different-covid-explained/ [login to see] /
Officials in India are racing to contain a virus outbreak that has claimed the life of a 12-year-old boy and is deadlier than COVID-19 — the Nipah virus.
CBS News reports the boy was taken to the hospital last week in the southern Kerala state with a high-grade fever and suspected brain inflammation. After blood tests, he was diagnosed with the Nipah virus and died Sunday.
Officials are using contact tracing, quarantine and hospitalization on the 188 people who have came into contact with the preteen to prevent a wide-spread outbreak, CBS reported.
"This is one of those viruses we really need to pay attention to," John Lednicky, a research professor at the University of Florida's Environmental and Global Health department, told USA TODAY.
The reemergence of the Nipah virus is compacting a problem in the nation already grappling with the effects of COVID-19, with over 30,000 new COVID cases reported on Monday.
Officials in India are racing to contain a virus outbreak that has claimed the life of a 12-year-old boy and is deadlier than COVID-19 — the Nipah virus.
CBS News reports the boy was taken to the hospital last week in the southern Kerala state with a high-grade fever and suspected brain inflammation. After blood tests, he was diagnosed with the Nipah virus and died Sunday.
Officials are using contact tracing, quarantine and hospitalization on the 188 people who have came into contact with the preteen to prevent a wide-spread outbreak, CBS reported.
"This is one of those viruses we really need to pay attention to," John Lednicky, a research professor at the University of Florida's Environmental and Global Health department, told USA TODAY.
The reemergence of the Nipah virus is compacting a problem in the nation already grappling with the effects of COVID-19, with over 30,000 new COVID cases reported on Monday.
What is the Nipah virus and why is it more deadly than COVID? A virus expert explains.
Posted from usatoday.com
India
Medical
Health
Posted >1 y ago
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No. I'm sorry, we are not allowed to encounter any new viruses until we are finished with the ones we already have.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."What is the Nipah virus?
The Nipah virus was first discovered in Malaysia and Singapore in 1999 after multiple pigs and people became sick, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
So far, the only recorded outbreaks have occurred in Asia.
It's classified as a zoonotic virus that initially spreads from animals to people. It can also be transmitted through contaminated food and directly between people.
The Nipah virus is not related to COVID-19, but may have the same originating source — bats.
The host of the virus is fruit bats, also known as flying foxes because of their large size.
Lednicky said pigs are highly susceptible to the virus and can come in contact with it through fruit material the bats have been consuming.
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Other domestic animals like horses, goats, sheep, cats and dogs can become infected, according to the CDC.
Unsuspecting humans may also come into contact with contaminated fruit and become infected.
"There's probably an underestimate of people who have been infected with the virus due to people not being properly diagnosed," Lednicky said."...
..."What is the Nipah virus?
The Nipah virus was first discovered in Malaysia and Singapore in 1999 after multiple pigs and people became sick, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
So far, the only recorded outbreaks have occurred in Asia.
It's classified as a zoonotic virus that initially spreads from animals to people. It can also be transmitted through contaminated food and directly between people.
The Nipah virus is not related to COVID-19, but may have the same originating source — bats.
The host of the virus is fruit bats, also known as flying foxes because of their large size.
Lednicky said pigs are highly susceptible to the virus and can come in contact with it through fruit material the bats have been consuming.
'Don't let me die':Inside a COVID-19 unit in Florida's capital city amid a surge in cases
'Keeping a very close eye on it':What we know about the mu variant
Other domestic animals like horses, goats, sheep, cats and dogs can become infected, according to the CDC.
Unsuspecting humans may also come into contact with contaminated fruit and become infected.
"There's probably an underestimate of people who have been infected with the virus due to people not being properly diagnosed," Lednicky said."...
(5)
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