Things to know about the strange virus outbreak, killing 9 people in India

The mangoes bitten by bats are believed to be the source of the virus.

At least nine people in southern India died in a rare but extremely dangerous outbreak of Nipah , according to a BBC report.

Nipah is considered an emerging killer virus. Scientists first discovered it 20 years ago. The origin of the Nipah virus is determined to be from some fruit bat species. It can infect humans directly or indirectly through other animals including pigs.

Indian authorities suspect that the new Nipah outbreak originates from mango-eating patients bitten by bats.

The area that detects a Nipah virus outbreak.

Currently, we do not have treatment for Nipah. Meanwhile, this virus can spread from person to person. The death rate of patients is in the range of 40-75%.

These statistics show that Nipah has the potential to cause a deadly pandemic. That is why the World Health Organization (WHO) lists Nipah as an urgent priority research object, along with diseases such as Ebola and SARS.

Of the 9 people who died in Kozhikode city in Kerala, India, 3 cases of Nipah infection were confirmed. Specimen testing of the remaining 6 people is underway. In fact, a total of 25 hospitalizations suspected of being infected with Nipah virus.

A little known virus

The outbreak of Nipah was first reported in Malaysia in 1998. There were 265 people infected with a strange disease that caused encephalitis, after contact with pigs or a previous infected person. 105 of them died, the death rate was 40%.

Local authorities tried to stop the disease by killing and destroying more than 1 million pigs.

Since then, there have been a number of small Nipah outbreaks in India and Bangladesh, with about 280 cases and 211 deaths - an average death rate of up to 75%.

The researchers identified the natural host of the Nipah virus, not pigs, but some fruit bats. In some cases, Nipah infects humans, after the patient drinks water from the date palm tree that has been visited by bats.

According to the BBC's report, recent Indian patients may be infected with Nipah from mangoes that have been bitten by bats. Authorities found these mangoes in a house of three deceased patients.

Roads for Nipah infection: through fruits bitten by bats, products from plastic palm dates, contact with animals and virus carriers

Symptoms of Nipah infection vary depending on each outbreak.

Many patients have fever and headache, followed by drowsiness and confusion. Some patients exhibit common flu-like symptoms. But their disease progresses quickly and can lead to coma within 1-2 days.

Even patients with Nipah infection who are fortunate not to die also face long-term health problems, such as personality changes or chronic seizures. Some cases incubate Nipah disease for months or years after exposure to the disease.

Nipah is thought to be contagious through close contact with animals or patients carrying the virus in the outbreak area. In India at least 1 nurse has been infected and died while treating patients. One study showed that Nipah virus is transmitted through saliva.

Currently, Indian authorities are prioritizing testing to find the remaining cases of Nipah in the community, in order to isolate and localize epidemics to ensure the disease does not continue to spread.