Nipah Virus Explained: High fatality rate and what you need to know

Australia is closely monitoring the Nipah virus outbreak in India and has issued a travel advisory for those traveling to Bangladesh.

Encephalitis and pneumonia caused by Nipah viruses, computer illustration. Nipah virus is zoonotic (transmitted to humans from animals) and was first found in Malaysia and Singapore in people who had close contact with pigs. It was initially isolated in 1999 upon examining samples from an outbreak of encephalitis and respiratory illness among adult men in those two countries. Credit: KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRA/Getty Images/Science Photo Libra

Key Points

• In India, there are two confirmed cases, with more than 190 people placed under quarantine.
• According to the World Health Organization, the Nipah virus has a fatality rate of 40–75% and causes symptoms such as fever, severe headache, difficulty breathing, and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
• The Nipah virus was first discovered in Malaysia in pigs, and it can now be transmitted through fruit contaminated with the urine or saliva of fruit bats.
• Experts advise being cautious with food and drinks that may be contaminated by fruit bats. They recommend not eating unpeeled fruit and avoiding drinks that have not been boiled or pasteurised.

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Nipah Virus Explained: High fatality rate and what you need to know

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