36. Nipah Virus: The deadly outbreak.

Nipah Virus is a zoonotic virus. Cause? Transmission: It is a virus that is transmitted through direct contact with infected animals like bats or pigs. This virus is highly contagious. It can affect people who come in direct contact with the contaminated bodies.Symptoms: Nipah virus begins with fever and headache followed by vomiting, inflammation of the brain and  drowsiness. Nipah virus first emerged in Malaysia in 1998 resulting in 105 deaths. It’s name originated from Sungai Nipah, a village in the Malaysian Peninsula where pig farmers became ill with encephalitis. Recently in 2018, there was a Nipah Virus outbreak in Kerala. The outbreak emerged in Kozikode and Malappuram districts resulting in 17 deaths. The outbreak was started by a 23-year old man after he had consumed a partially infected bat eaten fruit and was later, tested positive for Nipah virus. “Not Today” GOT fans can relate, this is what Arya Stark tells the God of Death and Kerala definitely applied it well during the epidemic. A movie named Virus was made in 2019. It was co-produced and directed by Aashiq Abu. This movie has highlighted how Kerala dealt with the haunting virus, how the government with the doctors worked as a team along with the difficulties they had to face and how they controlled and eliminated the virus. It has also given a tribute to all the people who helped fight this virus. Again recently, on June 4^th, 2019, a 23-year-old student in Ernakulam district was tested positive for this highly contagious virus . But by calling for high alerts the situation was brought under control. Unfortunately, there are no vaccinations or any drugs available against this visur. In this case, taking precautions is the only way to escape the dangerous consequences of Nipah virus. Avoiding fruits contaminated with urine or saliva from infected fruit bats also, avoiding fruits with bite marks of bats and pigs.