First Nipah virus death in country recorded this year

First Nipah virus death in country recorded this year

The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) has reported the death of a woman in Naogaon due to Nipah virus infection.

The state-run institute said this is the first death in the country from the virus this year. The woman died on January 28.

IEDCR's Senior Scientific Officer, Sharmin Sultana said, "The woman was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of Nipah virus. After learning of the matter, we conducted tests and confirmed that she died after being infected with the Nipah virus. This is the first death from Nipah virus this year."

The last Nipah virus death in the country occurred in August last year. Four people died from the virus last year.

The Nipah virus primarily spreads to humans from animals such as pigs and fruit bats. Humans can become infected through direct contact with these animals or through their saliva or excreta.

After entering the human body, the virus can typically remain dormant for 4 to 14 days. Initial symptoms of infection include high fever, nausea, vomiting, and breathing difficulties, which can later develop into pneumonia.

In severe cases, the disease causes dangerous inflammation or swelling in the brain, leading to neurological problems such as drowsiness and convulsions. Although the rate of transmission from one person to another is low, the World Health Organization considers the virus to be high-risk for an epidemic.