Nipah Virus: India's Cases Under Control, Experts Urge Vigilance

• Two Nipah cases reported in West Bengal, but all 200 quarantined contacts tested negative, indicating no rapid spread.
• Nipah is a zoonotic virus, primarily spread by fruit bats, causing severe illness affecting the brain and respiratory system with a high mortality rate.
• Transmission occurs through contaminated fruits, contact with infected animals or bodily fluids of infected persons, and in hospitals without proper safety.
• Symptoms include high fever, headache, vomiting, breathing difficulties, and in severe cases, encephalitis and unconsciousness.
• No specific cure or vaccine exists; treatment is supportive. Prevention through avoiding bat-contaminated fruits, hand hygiene, and isolation is crucial.

Why It Matters: Nipah virus cases in India are under control, but vigilance and preventive measures are essential due to its high mortality.