A 38 year-old man has been admitted to hospital after showing symptoms of monkeypox, the minister said in a Facebook post. The disease has been confirmed in a person undergoing treatment with monkeypox injection in Malappuram, he said. The inquiries have come to light in an individual investigation by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). All symptomatic people coming here are requested to inform the health department and get immediate treatment.
The Minister said that the Health Department should make arrangements for patient services and treatment in hospitals. He also said that treatment equipment is also available in all the medical clinics in the state. Monkeypox has been a public health concern in some areas of Africa for many years. But in 2022 it became a matter of global concern.
What is Nipah virus?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah virus infection is a "zoonotic disease" that spreads to humans from animals such as pigs and bats.
WHO has described this virus as a priority pathogen because of its potential to spread pandemics.
Past outbreak
Nipah virus was first identified in 1999 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia. No new outbreaks have been reported in Malaysia since 1999.
It was also recognized in Bangladesh in 2001, and almost annual outbreaks have occurred in that country since then. The disease has also been identified from time to time in eastern India.
What are the symptoms of Nipah virus?
Early symptoms may include:
- Fever
- Headache
- muscle pain
- vomit
- sore throat
In some people, this may be followed by:
- dizziness and/or drowsiness
- and/or altered consciousness
- and/or modified acute encephalitis
- and/or atypical pneumonia
- and/or other serious respiratory problems
How does Nipah virus spread?
People can get infected with Nipah:
- Direct contact with infected animals such as bats or pigs
- Consuming food or drinks that have been contaminated by infected animals, such as fruit or raw date juice
- close contact with body fluids of an infected person
A person can become infected by drinking the juice of raw dates or eating fruit contaminated by infected bats. This initial spread from an animal to humans is known as a spillover event.
Once a person becomes infected with Nipah, the virus can spread from person to person.
Treatment:
There is currently no drug or vaccine specific for Nipah virus infection, although WHO has identified Nipah as a priority disease for the WHO Research and Development Blueprint. Intensive supportive care is recommended to treat severe respiratory and neurological complications.
Prevention:
Currently, there is no vaccine available against Nipah virus. Based on the experience gained during the Nipah outbreak in pig farms in 1999, regular and thorough cleaning and disinfection of pig farms with appropriate detergents can be effective in preventing infection.
If an outbreak is suspected, the animal premises should be isolated immediately. Killing infected animals – with close monitoring of burying or burning the carcasses – may be necessary to reduce the risk of transmission to people. The spread of the disease can be reduced by restricting or restricting the movement of animals from infected farms to other areas.
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