Nipah Virus: Facts and Why Kerala Sees Repeated Outbreaks
Why in the news
Kerala logged Nipah again, yet how it spills from bats to humans remains unclear.
Key facts
- An RNA virus related to Hendra virus, passing from animals to people.
- Spread: infected animals (notably pigs), raw date palm sap, and person-to-person contact.
- Symptoms: respiratory illness, seizures, encephalitis, confusion and coma.
- Incubation 4-14 days, rarely up to 45; fatality 40-75%.
Why Kerala
- Virus is endemic in local fruit bats.
- Settlements sit close to forests.
- Good surveillance detects cases early; other states may under-report.
Exam angle
- Host: flying foxes; family: Henipavirus.