¿Qué es el virus Nipah, la infección que ha encendido las alarmas en la India?
Según la Organización Mundial de la Salud, el virus Nipah se logró reconocer por primera vez desde 1999 en Malasia entre criaderos de cerdos. Fue en 2001, en Bangladesh, cuando se reconoció la enfermedad, pues desde entonces se han reportado brotes casi que anuales.
TL;DR
- The Nipah virus was first identified in Malaysia in 1999 and has caused annual outbreaks in Bangladesh since 2001.
- India has confirmed two cases, prompting an alert and surveillance of 190 contacts.
- Transmission can occur through direct contact with infected pigs or consumption of contaminated fruit (urine/saliva from infected bats).
- Human-to-human transmission has been observed, particularly in healthcare settings.
- Symptoms range from asymptomatic to mild respiratory illness or lethal encephalitis, with initial flu-like symptoms followed by neurological signs.
- The incubation period is typically 4-14 days, but can be up to 45 days.
- Fruit bats are believed to be the animal host.
- There is currently no vaccine; prevention involves risk awareness, reducing exposure, and thoroughly washing and peeling fruit.