Kerala was on high alert as rare and deadly Nipah Virus (NiV) infection which was detected for the first time in the state.
Nipah virus (NiV) infection is zoonotic disease that causes severe disease in both animals and humans. Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae Family, Pteropus genus are natural host of the virus.
It was first identified during outbreak of disease that took place in Kampung Sungai Nipah, Malaysia in 1998.
The virus cannot be transmitted through air. But it is transmitted through direct contact with infected bats, pigs. Human to Human transmission from other NiV-infected people is also reported.
NiV infection can cause acute respiratory syndrome, breathing trouble, inflammation of the brain, fever, headache, drowsiness, disorientation and delirium. Patient can slip into coma within 48 hours.