A new study conducted in India has revealed an outbreak of the Nipah virus, one of the most dangerous viruses globally, in two species of bats in Maharashtra state. An article published by the Indian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Public Health confirmed that experts from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) discovered the RNA of the virus and its antibodies in samples collected from 80 bats of the Rousettus leschenaultii and Pipistrellus species in a cave in the Mahabaleshwar area.
This marks the first instance of Rousettus leschenaultii bats being found infected with the Nipah virus, raising concerns about the potential for this serious infection to spread both within India and beyond, especially given that new cases have been identified near large residential areas. Experts noted that their new discovery necessitates further studies.
The World Health Organization has classified the Nipah virus among the 10 most dangerous viruses globally, and there is currently no treatment for it, with a mortality rate among infected individuals ranging from 40% to 75%. The virus is transmitted to humans through the saliva of infected animals, which is left on fruits.
The first case of the Nipah virus in India was recorded in 2001, and since then, the country has experienced four outbreaks, the last two of which occurred in Kerala. Dr. Pragta Yadav from the Indian National Institute of Virology mentioned that none of the bat species in Maharashtra had previously shown any exposure to the Nipah virus. It is known that Nipah poses a risk, as there are no medicines or vaccines available, and the mortality rate for Nipah infections is high. In comparison, the case fatality rate (CFR) for patients infected with the coronavirus ranges from 1-2%, whereas the mortality rate from Nipah can be between 65-100%.
Furthermore, the Nipah virus is listed in the World Health Organization's monitoring list of the top 10 pathogens, with outbreaks reported in Bangladesh, Malaysia, India, and Singapore. It was first identified in Malaysia during 1998-1999 amid an outbreak resembling encephalitis among pigs and pig farmers, where the case fatality rate was observed to be 40%. In India, there have been four outbreaks of Nipah with a CFR ranging from 65-100%.
