Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: IE
Context: Nipah virus infection has re-emerged in Kerala, with two reported deaths and two individuals under treatment.
About Nipah:
- Nipah is a zoonotic disease, primarily transmitted to humans through infected animals particularly bats or contaminated food, and it can also spread from person to person through close contact.
- Symptoms include fever, headache, cough, sore throat, difficulty in breathing, and vomiting, with severe cases potentially leading to encephalitis, coma, and death.
- The virus is primarily transmitted through consumption of contaminated food or direct contact with infected animals, particularly fruit bats.
- It is highly lethal, with mortality rates ranging from 40% to 75%.
