Nipah virus is an emerging zoonotic virus, an RNA virus.
Nipah virus belongs to the family of Paramyxoviridae, which has a wide range of hosts, and pigs, human beings, dogs and cats can be its hosts. It can be infected through direct contact with secretions or excretions, exhaled gases, etc. of sick people. People can also be infected by eating food contaminated with Nipah virus. The incubation period after infection is about 1 to 3 weeks, up to 45 days.
In the early stages of infection, flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache and sore throat may occur. As the disease progresses, drowsiness and disorientation may occur, which may further progress to coma after one to two days. Some patients will die in a coma, and those who survive the coma will develop permanent brain death.
When there is a suspected Nipah virus infection, you should go to the hospital for a formal examination in order to avoid delaying your condition.