health
Virus Nipah: ¿Cuál es el peligro y los síntomas?
El virus Nipah, que se propaga actualmente por la India, está clasificado entre los agentes que causan infecciones particularmente peligrosas, advirtió en una entrevista Alexánder Guíntsburg, director del Centro de Investigación Gamaleya de Moscú.
TL;DR
- Nipah virus is classified as a particularly dangerous infectious agent.
- There is no medication against Nipah virus; recovery depends on individual immunity.
- Potential complications include sepsis, bilateral pneumonia, and meningitis, which can be fatal.
- Initial symptoms include fever, headache, cough, sore throat, and difficulty breathing.
- The most severe complication is encephalitis (brain inflammation), leading to confusion, altered consciousness, seizures, or coma.
- Five cases have been reported in West Bengal, India, with approximately one hundred contacts quarantined.
- The virus is transmitted by fruit bats, contaminated food, or close contact with infected individuals.
- The WHO designates Nipah as a high-priority pathogen due to its high lethality (40%-75%) and potential for severe outbreaks.
- There is currently no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment.