Nipah virus encephalitis
Nipah Virus Encephalitis
Nipah virus encephalitis (pronounced: nee-pah virus en-sef-uh-lie-tis) is a severe and often fatal infectious disease caused by the Nipah virus. The term originates from the village of Sungai Nipah in Malaysia, where the virus was first identified in 1998.
Etymology
The name "Nipah" is derived from the Malay word for the species of palm tree where the virus was first identified. "Encephalitis" is derived from the Greek words "enkephalos" (brain) and "-itis" (inflammation), referring to the inflammation of the brain caused by the virus.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Nipah virus encephalitis include fever, headache, drowsiness, disorientation, mental confusion, coma, and potentially death. These symptoms can progress to encephalitis, a severe brain inflammation, which can lead to long-term disability or death.
Transmission
Nipah virus is primarily transmitted to humans from animals, particularly fruit bats of the genus Pteropus, commonly known as flying foxes. It can also be transmitted from person to person and through contaminated food.
Prevention and Treatment
There is currently no vaccine for the prevention of Nipah virus infection. Treatment is limited to supportive care. Prevention involves avoiding exposure to bats in endemic areas and not drinking raw date palm sap.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Nipah virus encephalitis
- Wikipedia's article - Nipah virus encephalitis
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