With the recent outbreak of Nipah virus in Kerala, South
India, fear is spreading throughout Kerala regarding this infectious fever. Everyone
went into panic mode when Nipah was confirmed in the patient recently.
What stuck me was the long wait for the test to be confirmed
by Pune National Institute of Virology. When delving deep, I found that BSL
(biosafety level) 3 or 4 classified labs only were allowed to handle such
dangerous pathogens. Pune Lab is classified as BSL -4. This was news to me. The
tests done to confirm the infection is ELISA and RT-PCR using bodily fluids and
blood.
Nipah virus comes under the category of virus which causes
hemorrhagic fevers. In ICD-10-CM the code for Nipah is A98.8
– (other specified viral hemorrhagic fevers). Also there is no vaccine for Nipah infection yet. This is
a zoonotic virus transmitted from (animals to humans) and can also be
transmitted through contaminated food or directly between humans. Symptoms
range from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory illness and also fatal
encephalitis.
The method used
to contain the spread of infection is quarantining the patients and the infected
animals. Symptomatic and supportive treatment will be given to patients. WHO
Research and Development team is working rapidly to find a vaccine on a
priority basis.
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