{"id":4302,"date":"2023-11-20T13:49:17","date_gmt":"2023-11-20T11:49:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/?p=4302"},"modified":"2023-11-21T11:40:39","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T09:40:39","slug":"nipah-virus-niv-awareness-should-south-africans-be-worried","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/archives\/4302","title":{"rendered":"Nipah virus (NiV) Awareness: Should South Africans be worried?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">COVID-19 has ignited a global interest in viral infections that have the potential to disrupt daily life. The latest is Nipah virus.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In September 2023, India had an outbreak of Nipah virus, it\u2019s sixth since 2001, resulting in 53 708 homes undergoing surveillance, over 1 200 cases being quarantined and school and public transport closures.*<sup>1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nipah virus (NiV) is an emerging zoonotic virus, meaning it is transmitted to humans from animals, fruit bats being the most common host. NiV was \ufb01rst discovered in 1999 during an outbreak that affected pigs and people in Malaysia and Singapore. Although there haven\u2019t been further outbreaks of NiV in Malaysia and Singapore, outbreaks have been observed almost annually in other parts of Asia \u2013 mainly Bangladesh and India.*<sup>2 <\/sup>*<sup>3<\/sup> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There have been no recorded cases or outbreaks of NiV in South Africa, which is also not considered to be an area of risk for NiV outbreak.*<sup>4<\/sup> *<sup>5<\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-528f38f970fca00d1c2ed12eb6d27863 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How does NiV spread?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the \ufb01rst con\ufb01rmed NiV outbreak in 1999, virus transmission was between infected animals (i.e. bats and pigs), which in turn spread to humans via close contact with the animals. During the earlier outbreaks, human-to-human transmission was not reported.*<sup>2 <\/sup>\u00a0However, subsequent outbreaks have reported transmission between humans after a new strain emerged in Bangladesh and India in 2001, which raises concerns of a more rapid and vast spread of the infection.*<sup>2<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4dcddf59afaa75583ca50699ee8759a6 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Modes of NiV infection in people<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"996\" src=\"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/virus3-1024x996.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/virus3-1024x996.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/virus3-300x292.jpg 300w, https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/virus3-768x747.jpg 768w, https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/virus3-1536x1494.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/virus3-2048x1992.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Close contact with infected animals, such as bats or pigs, or contact with their body \ufb02uids (e.g. blood, urine or saliva)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consumption of food contaminated by body \ufb02uids of infected animals (e.g. fruit contaminated by an infected bat)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Human-to-human transmission via contact with body \ufb02uids (e.g. nasal, or respiratory droplets, urine or blood)*<sup>2<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9edf91dd251e21b76ae84b229d84a23f wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What are the signs and symptoms of NiV infection?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Symptoms of the NiV infection range from asymptomatic to more severe cases of fatal encephalitis (in\ufb02ammation of the brain), which is rare. Initial symptoms usually appear 4-14 days after virus exposure and may include one or more of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"996\" src=\"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/virus2-1024x996.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4306\" srcset=\"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/virus2-1024x996.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/virus2-300x292.jpg 300w, https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/virus2-768x747.jpg 768w, https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/virus2-1536x1494.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/virus2-2048x1992.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fever<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Headache<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cough<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sore throat<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Difficulty breathing<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Vomiting*<sup>2<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-756ec56e59a4add80a1e79cf6c4247a9 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How is NiV diagnosed?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Early diagnosis of NiV is essential to improve survival rates, prevent virus transmission and manage outbreaks effectively. However, the non-speci\ufb01c nature of the initial symptoms poses a challenge to early diagnosis.*<sup>2<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NiV can be diagnosed using various laboratory tests to detect traces of the virus in bodily \ufb02uids. Examples of diagnostic tests include, but are not exclusive to, the testing of blood using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test or the use of real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing, which can be performed on saliva, blood, urine and cerebrospinal \ufb02uid.*<sup>2 <\/sup>*<sup>3<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1606e8458a2949fc75acf52eb6eeaeec wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How is NiV treated?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is no cure for NiV infection, and no therapy is speci\ufb01cally registered in this setting. Treatment would largely be limited to supportive care to manage the symptoms of the infection as they occur (e.g. bed rest, adequate hydration). All suspected cases should be monitored in hospital isolation to reduce the risk of transmission.*<sup>2 <\/sup>*<sup>3<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NiV can be fatal in 40%-75% of cases. Survivors of acute encephalitis from NiV infection may experience long-term complications, such as persistent seizures, confusion, and changes in personality (e.g. cognitive impairment, depression, and verbal memory de\ufb01cit).<sup> <\/sup>*<sup>3<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-59a90a57057503cfd8338c73c3f184f8 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How can NiV infection be prevented?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is currently no NiV vaccine available to offer protection against the virus.*<sup>3<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In high-risk areas, where there have been previously reported outbreaks, the following precautions are recommended:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Wash hands regularly with soap and water.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid contact with animals (e.g. bats or pigs) who are known or suspected to be infected.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stay away from areas where bats are known to roost.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Refrain from consuming products that could be contaminated.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensure fruits are thoroughly washed and peeled before eating.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid close contact with people infected with NiV. Where this is not possible, personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential.*<sup>2 <\/sup>*<sup>3<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-18bdbad3d3e17f4364085c9ba74d5edd wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What is covered for NiV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NiV is not considered a prescribed minimum benefit (PMB condition. The diagnosis and supportive care would be subject to available routine bene\ufb01ts and scheme rules.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>References<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1.&nbsp;<\/strong>Nipah Virus (NiV) [Internet]. cdc. 2019. Available from: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/vhf\/nipah\/index.html.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">2.World Health Organization &#8211; License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. WER No 41 , 2011, 451-455. Available from: https:\/\/www.who.int\/publications\/i\/item\/who-wer8641-451-455.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">3. What you need to know about the Nipah virus outbreak [Internet]. CapeTalk. [cited 2023 Sep 26]. Available from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.capetalk.co.za\/articles\/484585\/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-nipah-virus-outbreak.\">https:\/\/www.capetalk.co.za\/articles\/484585\/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-nipah-virus-outbreak.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">4. Admin. Home [Internet]. NICD. 2018. Available from: https:\/\/www.nicd.ac.za\/.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">5. Nipah Virus Distribution Map | Nipah Virus (NiV) | CDC [Internet]. www.cdc.gov. 2021. Available from: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/vhf\/nipah\/outbreaks\/distribution-map.html.<\/p>\n<div style=\"display:flex; gap:10px;justify-content:center\" class=\"wps-pgfw-pdf-generate-icon__wrapper-frontend\">\n\t\t<a  href=\"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4302?action=genpdf&amp;id=4302\" class=\"pgfw-single-pdf-download-button\" ><img src=\"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/plugins\/pdf-generator-for-wp\/admin\/src\/images\/PDF_Tray.svg\" title=\"Generate PDF\" style=\"width:auto; height:45px;\"><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>COVID-19 has ignited a global interest in viral infections that have the potential to disrupt daily life. The latest is Nipah virus. In September 2023, India had an outbreak of Nipah virus, it\u2019s sixth since 2001, resulting in 53 708 homes undergoing surveillance, over 1 200 cases being quarantined and school and public transport closures.*1 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4303,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[237],"tags":[228],"class_list":["post-4302","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-our-wellness-afrocentric-08","tag-afrocentric08"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4302","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4302"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4302\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4441,"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4302\/revisions\/4441"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4302"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4302"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4302"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}