In March this year, five persons died of an unknown disease in Thakurgaon . After an examination of one dead body, the Nipah virus was found by Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).
The research indicated that all five persons showed symptoms of fever, headache, vomiting, and encephalitis. Specialists said that Nipah spread among humans from animals and in Bangladesh the virus is spread through bats. The chances of getting infected from Nipah is high between December and April since during this time, date juice is extracted from trees. Bats often drink date juice deposited within the earthen pots tied to the trees.
A person who drinks raw juice may be infected and he/she may unwittingly act as a germ carrier.
Researchers explain that since no medicine has been discovered, the chances of death from Nipah are between 70 and 100 percent. Of those who survive, 15 to 20 percent experience nerve weakness.
Awareness is the major way to avoid being infected by Nipah. Director of IEDCR, Dr Mirzadi Sebrina Flora, has requested all to refrain from drinking raw date juice.
She said: “We have been warning people about Nipah since 2001 and the death rate has been 70 percent.”
One can be infected if half eaten fruits are eaten, said Dr Mirzadi, adding: “After coming into contact with an infected person, hands need to be washed and the infected person should be taken to the hospital as soon as possible.”
At a Nipah virus related summit, specialists have said that this may take the form of an epidemic.
Chief executive of Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) Richard Hatchet, has said: “Twenty years have passed since Nipah was detected but the world does not have enough materials to tackle the health risks from it.”
Dr AS Alamgir of IEDCR has said: “We are carrying out surveillance and taking steps if anyone is detected with Nipah; but people should avoid drinking date juice and fruits which may have been nibbled by bats.”