Nipah virus (NiV) emerged as a cause of severe viral encephalitis in Southeast Asia in the late 1990's.
Family: paramyxovirus
Genus: Pteropus
Transmission:
(1) Ingestion of raw date palm sap contaminated with fruit bat saliva or urine.
(2) Contact with pigs.
(3) Contact with saliva of an infected human.
Incubation period: usually 4 to 14 days but rarely may be delayed.
Clinical findings:
(1) fever
(2) headache
(3) myalgias
(4) dizziness
(5) vomiting
(6) respiratory symptoms including respiratory distress
(7) rapidly progressive encephalitis with reduced level of consciousness and seizures
The mortality rate in some outbreaks has been very high.
Risk factors for poor prognosis:
(1) older adult with diabetes
(2) severe brainstem involvement
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Specialty: Infectious Diseases, Neurology
