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Nipah Virus: Deadly Threat With No Cure
29 Jan
Summary
- Nipah virus designated high priority due to high fatality and no proven treatment.
- Infection fatality rate estimated between 40 and 75 percent.
- Transmission occurs through contaminated fruit or close contact with infected individuals.
The UK Health Security Agency has classified the Nipah virus as a "high priority pathogen." This designation stems from the virus's extremely high fatality rate, with estimates suggesting 40 to 75 percent of infected individuals could die. Compounding these fears is the current absence of a proven specific treatment or licensed vaccine.
Transmission pathways for Nipah virus include the consumption of contaminated fruit or fruit products, often through contact with infected fruit bats. Human-to-human spread is also possible, particularly in situations involving close proximity to an infected person or their bodily fluids. This has led to tightened health screenings in several Asian countries.
While the risk of widespread global transmission is considered low due to limited person-to-person infectivity (R0 less than 1.0), experts caution against complacency. The virus's long incubation period, sometimes extending beyond 21 days, makes early detection at borders challenging. Survivors may experience lasting neurological issues, and rare instances of virus reactivation have been documented.
