NIPAH VIRUS – BANGLADESH (08): CASES AND CASE FATALITY RATE
A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Tue 12 Dec 2023
Source: The Business Standard [edited]
https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/health/bangladesh-reports-highest-nipah-virus-deaths-7-years-iedcr-754886
This year [2023] in Bangladesh, the Nipah virus has claimed the lives
of 10 individuals, marking the highest death toll from the infection
in 7 years. Besides, an additional 14 people have been diagnosed with
the virus.
Narsingdi [district] recorded this year’s [2023] 1st Nipah virus
patient, according to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control,
and Research (IEDCR).
During a discussion titled “Spread and Risks of the Nipah Virus” held
at the IEDCR headquarters on Sunday [10 Dec 2023], it was revealed
that, for the 1st time this year [2023], the virus has been detected
in breast milk.
During the winter, a festivity surrounding date juice contributes to
the spread of a deadly disease across the country. Consequently,
researchers and doctors have advised against consuming date juice.
“Nipah virus spreads through bat secretions or saliva. Consuming
contaminated raw date palm sap can also lead to the transmission of
this virus. Infected individuals can transmit the virus to members of
their families or healthcare workers,” said Professor Tahmina Shirin,
director at the IEDCR.
To prevent the spread of the virus, she advised against consuming raw
date palm sap and not eating half-eaten fruits left exposed in the
open.
Date juice, marketed online with enticing labels like “safe” and
“boiled” is contributing to the spread of Nipah virus cases throughout
the country.
According to IEDCR data, the 1st Nipah patient in Bangladesh was
identified in Meherpur in 2001. The virus has been found in 7
districts of the country.
Since then, a total of 339 individuals have been confirmed to have
been infected with the Nipah virus in the country, with 240
fatalities, leading to a mortality rate of 71.44% [in fact, 70.8%].
Previously, in 2015, 15 individuals were infected with the Nipah virus
in the country, resulting in 11 deaths. In the subsequent years, the
number of Nipah patients fluctuated between 2 and 8.
For the surveillance and assessment of the spread and risks associated
with the Nipah virus in Bangladesh, a collaborative effort between
IEDCR and icddr,b has been conducting Nipah surveillance in 8 medical
college hospitals in the country since 2006.
Dr Mushtuq Hussain, public health expert and advisor to the IEDCR,
said, “To prevent Nipah virus, raw date juice should not be consumed
under any circumstances. However, date juice can be consumed after
making it into jaggery. In addition to date juice, this virus can also
spread through various fruits.
“We must wash fruits and vegetables that we eat unpeeled, such as
tomatoes, plums, guavas, and strawberries, with soap. Fruits that we
peel, on the other hand, should be washed well with water. Fruits that
have been eaten by bats should not be eaten.”
Professor Dr Md Shahadat Hossain, director (Management Information
System) at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), said,
“The information we provided is for confirmed cases. We are not sure
if the people who died recently were infected with the Nipah virus. We
need to focus more on case detection.
“Since there is no vaccine for this disease, we need to disseminate
information about it to the people. We need to work together towards
this goal.”
Professor Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora, director at the National
Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM), said, “The death
rate from the Nipah virus is very high. So, it is difficult to say
whether you will survive, even if you are detected early. And those
who survive cannot return to a normal life. They are becoming
disabled. In other words, there is no way to get rid of Nipah without
prevention.”
She added, “We should not invite the Nipah virus by celebrating the
juice festival. If you have severe headaches, fevers, and convulsions,
you should seek medical advice immediately.”
Professor Flora also pointed out that many hospitals do not want to
admit Nipah patients. Because service providers can also be infected.
In this situation, the DGHS should issue a letter to all hospitals to
dedicate a ward for Nipah patients.
“We are used to using PPE, masks, and gloves during the COVID period.
We can also follow that in the case of Nipah,” she added.