b'NipahWhat is it? directly from human to human through Nipah virus (NiV) is a newly emergingclose contact with peoples secretions and infectious disease. The virus livesexcretions 148 .harmlessly in fruit bats but started to threaten human lives when it jumpedIn the Philippines, people became sick species into factory farmed animals 144 . after eating meat from sick horses or History participating in their slaughter 149 .The disease appeared without warning,Symptoms in animalskilling large numbers of farmed pigs inPigs who become infected may exhibit no Malaysia and Singapore in 1998 and 1999.symptom at all, or they may suffer rapid Research showed that the virus had comelaboured breathing, an explosive cough, from fruit bats. These wild mammalsconvulsions, pneumonia and death. 150had been forced to feed at the orchardsSymptoms in peoplethat stood near to pig farms in northwestIn people, the disease begins with fever Malaysia after the destruction of their ownand headache, followed by drowsiness habitat for logging. Their saliva was on theand disorientation, which can rapidly half-eaten fruit they dropped, which wasprogress to coma. Nipah is also associated devoured by the pigs 145 . with encephalitis - an inflammation of the brain 151 . The case fatality rate is estimated Now, ten countries have reported outbreaksat 40 to 75 per cent. Approximately 20 or are said to be at risk. Since the initialper cent of patients are left with residual outbreak it has primarily affected humansneurological consequences such as in South and Southeast Asia (Malaysia,seizure disorder and personality changes. Singapore, Bangladesh and India) withA small number of people who recover devastating consequences 146 . subsequently relapse or develop delayed onset encephalitis 152 . Of the 265 cases of Routes of transmission 153It can be transmitted directly from animalsacute encephalitis in people, 105 died.to people, through contaminated meat andTreatmentdirectly between people 147 . There is no treatment or vaccine available During the original outbreak, mostfor either people or animals. The primary infections came from direct contact withtreatment for humans is supportive care 154 . sick pigs. During the later outbreaks inPigs are slaughtered and their bodies Bangladesh and India, Nipah virus spreadincinerated or buried 155 .24'