Can Nipah virus severely affect children and elderly populations like COVID? Here's how to prevent it

Nipah virus( NiV) infection is a rare but severe illness with a high fatality rate. It has appeared sporadically in epidemic proportions since 1998. In India, the Indo-Bangladesh region and coastal zones of Kerala have been impacted. This is a zoonotic disease as the virus jumps from bats to humans and farm animals especially pigs.

The symptoms include high fever, headache, dizziness, altered sensorium, seizures and breathing difficulty. No age is immune and any person who comes in contact with an infected case/ animal can get the disease. Children and elderly people particularly can have severe manifestations considering their immature/ weakened immune systems.

Dr. Sanjeev Dutta, HOD and Sr. Consultant - Neonatology & Paediatrics, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Faridabad says, “Nipah virus mainly strikes the lungs and brain. It may give rise to respiratory manifestations such as cough and sore throat, or even rapid breathing, fever, and gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, it may lead to encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) causing disorientation or seizures. Encephalitis may even be catastrophic and result in coma or death.”

As there is no vaccine available and no specific therapy for NiV infection, prevention is key to controlling the outbreak. Preventive measures include standard precautions, hand hygiene and safety measures.

People, especially children and elderly, should avoid contact with sick patients and animals; infected person's food and personal clothes should be segregated as virus spreads by fomites. Use of masks, especially N95 masks, can protect from droplet spread of the virus.

Frequent hand washing with soap and water or 70% alcohol- based sanitizers is a critical step in personal protection