Deadly Indian Virus Has Up To 75% Mortality Rate
The Daily Mail reported that the Nipah virus, which is believed to have inspired the movie “Contagion,” has already killed two in India. The outbreak is reportedly in the southern state of Kerala.
Besides the two fatalities, there are five other known cases, one of which is the child of one of the victims.
The kill rate of 75% for the Nipah virus is reportedly far more dangerous than any other recorded virus. It is believed to be spread by fruit bats that transmit the virus to humans by way of infected body fluids such as urine or saliva left on fruit.
The Kerala area is under a strict lockdown and public transportation is shut down. A massive testing program has been instituted that also covers residents from nearby states.
Area schools and offices are closed, and nine villages are now containment zones. Travelers from Kerala are undergoing testing for possible symptoms.
The Nipah virus is highly contagious and spreads rapidly through coughing or sneezing. Its symptoms include respiratory issues and fatal brain swelling.
There is currently no vaccine and the only course of treatment is letting the patient’s body try to fight it off.
The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that it is “closely” monitoring the situation in southern India. A spokesperson said the agency’s “emerging infections and zoonoses team continue to monitor the Nipah outbreak closely through our epidemic intelligence processes.”
They added that the Nipah virus has not been detected in the U.K. and the risk of it coming from India is “very low.”
Dr. Miles Carroll of the University of Oxford said that researchers at the institution are studying the outbreak to increase safety measures around the globe.
Interestingly, he confirmed that Oxford scientists are deploying the same technology that resulted in the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine to develop a clinical trial for a vaccine for the Nipah virus.
Southern India has had four such outbreaks since 2018.
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