Indian female nurse died more than a month after being infected with Nipah virus

West Bengal state health officials confirmed this information on February 12, saying this female nurse was one of two cases of Nipah virus infection recorded in West Bengal state. She started having fever symptoms last December and had to be kept alive on a ventilator since early January. However, her health condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to multiple organ failure and death.

Initial epidemiological investigation results showed that the female nurse may have been infected with Nipah virus by drinking fresh date palm nectar while attending a wedding in the India-Bangladesh border area. Fresh date palm honey is believed to be mixed with secretions from fruit bats, which carry Nipah disease.

This is the second death in the world confirmed due to Nipah virus in the past week. Just a few days ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) recorded one person dying from the Nipah virus in Bangladesh. This patient was a woman in her 40s who passed away after a week of symptoms of fever and seizures. Epidemiological investigation showed that she had a habit of drinking fresh date palm nectar.

Nipah virus is often transmitted to humans from infected bats or through fruits half-eaten by infected bats. This virus can cause high fever and encephalitis, with a particularly severe mortality rate, ranging from 40% to 75%. West Bengal state recorded Nipah outbreaks in 2001 and 2007. Recently, outbreaks have mainly appeared in Kerala state in Southern India, with the most serious outbreak in 2018 causing at least 17 deaths.

After India confirmed new cases last month, many Asian countries including Thailand, Singapore and Pakistan tightened screening procedures at airports. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) assesses that the risk of widespread spread of this virus is still low.

In Vietnam, to date the Ministry of Health has not recorded any cases of Nipah virus infection. However, during Tet, the demand for domestic and international travel increases. To prevent Nipah virus, the Ministry of Health tightens quarantine at border gates and recommends that people do not eat fruit that shows signs of being bitten by bats or birds and do not drink sap (honey, latex) from trees such as palm trees, raw coconuts… Ho Chi Minh City applies body temperature measurement for all incoming passengers at the airport.

Nipah virus is classified by WHO as one of the most dangerous groups with a high mortality rate. The disease begins with flu-like symptoms, quickly progresses to encephalitis, coma within 24-48 hours and leaves permanent neurological sequelae for about 20% of survivors.

There is currently no vaccine or specific treatment, the regimen relies mainly on supportive care. WHO experts advise people to avoid contact with bats and sick pigs; Absolutely do not drink fresh nectar that has not been heat-treated and must wash and peel fruits before eating.