Nipah virus fatality rate hits 100% with 5 cases reported this year: IEDCR
The information was disclosed during a discussion titled “Spread and Risks of the Nipah Virus,” held at the IEDCR headquarters this afternoon (19 December)
Bangladesh has reported five cases of the Nipah virus this year, with a 100% fatality rate.In 2023, the country recorded 13 Nipah cases, with 10 resulting in death.
Health officials, at a discussion in Dhaka today (19 December), issued a stern warning about the potential for transmission of the virus, particularly due to the consumption of raw date palm sap.
The discussion, "Spread and Risks of the Nipah Virus", was held at the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) headquarters.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
"This year, all Nipah cases had a history of their link to consuming raw date palm sap," said Professor Tahmina Shirin, director of IEDCR.
Among the five cases, four males and a three-year-old girl were reported in four districts — Naogaon, Khulna, Shariatpur and Manikganj.
"The Nipah virus spreads through bat secretions or saliva. Consuming contaminated raw date palm sap can also lead to transmission. Infected individuals can transmit the virus to family members or healthcare workers," Prof Shirin explained.
She advised against consuming raw date palm sap and warned people not to eat fruits partially eaten by bats. "Now date juice is sold online, if you keep it in the fridge, the juice stays good but the virus survives. Online sale of date juice or the promotion of juice festivals are matters of concern," the IEDCR director said.
Brigadier General Md Saidur Rahman, director of Kurmitola General Hospital, said, "Raw date palm sap is neither a necessary nor an essential food item; we consume it merely for indulgence. By avoiding this sap, we can protect ourselves from this dreadful disease."
Treatment for Nipah
In his comments, Syed Satter, assistant scientist and deputy project coordinator of Programme for Emerging Infections at icddr,b, said, "There is no treatment for the Nipah virus. By next year, we will be able to detect Nipah within 15 minutes. Hospitals outside Dhaka can quickly diagnose Nipah and start treatment."
There is no problem in eating jaggery, or boiled date palm juice, he said, adding that those who survive the Nipah virus can lead normal lives, even with disabilities.
Symptoms of Nipah virus infection typically appear 8 to 28 days after consumption of raw date palm sap. Infected individuals may experience fever, headache, body pain, muscle aches, weakness, nausea or vomiting, seizures and respiratory distress.
IEDCR has advised anyone exhibiting any of these symptoms to visit the nearest hospital or contact the institute at 01907801856 or icddr,b at 01304068800.
The officials said Bangladesh is scheduled to conduct next year Phase 2 trials of the Nipah virus vaccine developed by Oxford University. Scientists hope to make the vaccine available to the public by 2029, they said.
First detected in 2001
Nipah cases in Bangladesh usually occur between December and April.
According to IEDCR data, the first Nipah virus case in Bangladesh was detected in Meherpur in 2001. Since then, 343 individuals across 34 districts have been infected, with a mortality rate of 71%.
Of these, 28% of cases involved person-to-person transmission. Evidence of Nipah virus transmission through breast milk was also found in the country.
Currently, 88 Nipah survivors remain in follow-up care.
