A 42-year-old woman in Kerala’s Malappuram district tested positive for Nipah virus on May 8.
This is the third Nipah case in the district in two years.
Kerala has had 2 outbreaks (2018, 2023) and 4 spillover events (2019, 2021, and two in 2024).
A spillover involves only one case with no human-to-human transmission, unlike an outbreak.
Quick detection and isolation helped prevent spread in the latest case.
Nipah patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) are more likely to transmit the virus than those with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).
ARDS patients have higher viral loads and are more contagious due to symptoms like coughing.
Severe outbreaks in 2018 and 2023 had 17 deaths from 18 cases and 2 deaths from 6 cases respectively.
The 2018 virus showed slight genetic differences from the Bangladesh strain, suggesting local evolution.
Regular genetic studies of both human cases and fruit bats (the natural hosts) are crucial.
Scientists stress the need for quick sharing of virus sequences in public databases for better research and preparedness.
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