In the West Bengal region, near Kolkata, an outbreak of the Nipah virus has been reported, the consequences of which can be fatal. This information was published by The Economic Times.
Currently, five cases of the disease have been confirmed, three of which were identified this week. Among the affected are a doctor, a nurse, and a healthcare worker.
Two nurses who cared for patients in a private hospital contracted the virus right after the New Year holidays. Both exhibited high fever and difficulty breathing, and one of them fell into a coma. It is believed that she may have contracted the virus while caring for a patient who died before tests could be conducted.
In response to the outbreak, Indian authorities have quarantined 100 people.
Nipah is a virus that poses a serious threat, as there is neither a vaccine nor treatment for it. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies it as a high-risk pathogen, with a fatality rate ranging from 40% to 70% due to its ability to cause brain swelling.
Although human infections are relatively rare, the virus is most often transmitted through bats or contaminated fruits. Symptoms of the infection may include high fever, headaches, muscle pain, and general fatigue, sometimes accompanied by cough, shortness of breath, and pneumonia.
Source: RBC
