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<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">REUTERS/Sukree SukplangFruit bats are the natural hosts for the virus.</div></div></div><ul><li>At least nine people have reportedly died and 25 more have been infected in an outbreak of the Nipah virus in India. </li><li>Nipah is a deadly virus that can be transmitted between people. It has killed between 40% and 75% of infected people in past outbreaks.</li><li>Fruit bats are the natural host of the disease, and there is no cure or vaccine.</li></ul> At least nine people in southern India have died in cases linked to an outbreak of the rare and extremely deadly Nipah virus, according to a <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-44193145">report by the BBC</a>.Nipah is considered a newly emerging deadly virus - scientists only found out that it could jump from bats to other species, including humans, within the past 20 years. The disease is currently incurable and can be transmitted from person to person. It has killed between 40% and 75% of infected people in most outbreaks.These statistics indicate that Nipah has the potential to cause a deadly pandemic, which is why the World Health Organization <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/disease-x-who-lists-mystery-disease-as-potential-next-pandemic-2018-3">lists Nipah as an urgent research priority</a>, alongside <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-warns-of-deadly-disease-pandemic-2018-5#disease-x-7">diseases like Ebola and SARS</a>.Of the nine people who have died so far in the city of Kozhikode in Kerala, three cases of Nipah have been confirmed. Results from the other six are still being tested, and at least 25 more people have been hospitalized.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">AP Photo/Rob Griffith</div></div></div><h2>A little-known virus</h2>Nipah <a href="http://www.who.int/csr/disease/nipah/en/">first appeared in Malaysia</a> in 1998, when 265 people became infected with a strange illness that caused encephalitis, or brain inflammation, after they came into contact with pigs or sick people. In that outbreak, <a href="http://www.searo.who.int/entity/emerging_diseases/links/CDS_Nipah_Virus.pdf?ua=1">105 people died</a>, a fatality rate of 40%.Since then, there have been a number of smaller outbreaks in India and Bangladesh, with about 280 infections and 211 deaths - <a href="http://www.searo.who.int/entity/emerging_diseases/links/nipah_virus_outbreaks_sear/en/">an average fatality rate</a> of 75%.When the first infections jumped from pigs to humans, authorities killed more than a million pigs to try to stop the spread of the disease. Since then, however, researchers have identified several fruit bat species as the natural hosts of the virus. In some cases, humans have been infected after drinking sap from date palms that bats may have contaminated.The BBC reported that in the most recent outbreak, mangoes bitten by bats were found in a home where three of the deceased patients lived.Symptoms for Nipah have varied <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/nipah/symptoms/index.html">depending on the outbreak</a>. Many patients first experienced fever and headache, followed by drowsiness and confusion. Some patients have also shown respiratory flu-like symptoms while infected. In other cases, symptoms progressed to a coma within a day or two. People who survive the initial infection can have lasting health issues, including personality changes and persistent convulsions. In some cases, the virus has re-activated in patients months or years after exposure, causing illness and death.Close contact with sick animals or people can spread the disease - in the current outbreak, at least one of the deceased people was a nurse who treated sick patients. <a href="https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/49/11/1743/344101">A study of Nipah virus transmission</a> suggested that infected patients' saliva is likely to spread the infection.For now, the priority is to identify the remaining Nipah cases to ensure the disease doesn't continue to spread. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/octopus-weirdest-animals-rna-editing-super-powers-2018-5">Octopuses are officially the weirdest animals on Earth</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

A little-known, rare, and extremely deadly virus has emerged and killed people in India - here's what to know about Nipah virus

WHO says Nipah virus can be a potential epidemic in future. The outbreak of Nipah virus recognized in Bangladesh in 2004 was said to be caused by consuming date palm sap that was exposed to Nipah virus infected fruit bats. Nipah virus outbreaks were noticed in Kerala in India, Bangladesh, Singapore, Malaysia, and eastern Australia. The recent death of three members in the Nipah virus affected family in Kerala made the Kerala State Health Department to put the state on high alert. The nature of Nipah virus has not been ascertained so far. Symptoms and signs of Nipah virus infection in humans Human beings infected with Nipah virus can show up asymptomatic infection or acute respiratory infection ranging from mild to severe states in addition to encephalitis that can prove fatal. Some of the symptoms developed by persons infected with Nipah virus include headaches, fevers, muscle pain, sore throat and vomiting. They might also feel drowsiness, altered consciousness, and some neurological conditions like acute encephalitis or brain inflammation. In some affected individuals, Nipah virus can lead to severe kind of respiratory problems and acute respiratory distress. In some other serious cases of Nipah virus infection, the individuals might experience severe respiratory difficulties, atypical pneumonia, and seizures. Such conditions can also progress to the level of coma within a period of 24 to 48 hours. Convulsions and pulmonary signs can also be noticed in some infected persons. The incubation period of this virus is found to be between 4 to 14 days and in some cases, this can even drag on for as long as 45 days. The symptoms of Nipah virus are often confused with Japanese encephalitis. The outbreak of Nipah virus in Malaysia led to the death of more than 50% of the cases infected with Nipah virus. How to treat Nipah virus As on date, there are no drugs or vaccines available with us to treat Nipah virus infection. In fact, the WHO has identified Nipah virus as a priority disease for their Research and Development. Severe cases of Nipah virus infections are to be treated to prevent severe respiratory disorders and neurological complications including seizures. Since the vaccine to treat this deadly virus is absent today, prevention is the best way to stop the infection and spread of Nipah virus. Appropriate detergents must be used for a thorough cleaning of the infected pigs if any instances of Nipah virus outbreak is noted in animals, the farm must be immediately quarantined. In order to reduce the risk of Nipah virus outbreak the WHO suggests culling of infected animals, burial or incineration of the carcasses such steps can minimize the risk of transmission of Nipah virus to people. Nipha virus Treatment Treatment of Nipah virus is highly limited. Only supportive care can be given to the infected persons. There is no specific treatment plan available to the medical industry today. Extreme precautions are necessary for the healthcare workers dealing with Nipah virus infected persons and while handling the laboratory samples.

All you need to know about Nipah Virus Symptoms and Treatment

A zoonotic virus meaning that which is transmitted from animals to humans, Nipah virus can also be passed on from one human to another through direct contact or through contaminated food. When Nipah virus infects people, it can cause a range of illnesses in infected persons. These symptoms can range from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory difficulties and encephalitis that can be fatal. This virus is also found to cause severe diseases in animals which would bring about big economic losses for those in farming. There have been only a few known Nipah virus outbreaks in Asia. However, the fact that this virus infects a wide range of animals and causes severe illnesses and deaths to humans is a matter of big concern. <keyword id="6546549" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="nipah-virus-history">Nipah virus history</keyword> For the first time, Nipah virus was recognized in 1999 in pig farms located in Malaysia. Since 1999, there had not been other instances of Nipah virus outbreaks in Malaysia. In Bangladesh, Nipah virus was recognized for the first time in 2001. Since then, there had been annual occurrences of Nipah virus outbreaks in that country. Periodical outbreaks of Nipah virus has been noted in eastern India also. The bat species called as Pteropus have been identified as the natural reservoirs for Nipah virus. These species of bats are known to inhabit countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Ghana, Madagascar, and the Philippines. Hence these countries are said to be in the zones carrying a high risk of Nipah virus outbreaks. Nipah virus and domestic animals In 1999, Nipah virus outbreak was noted in pigs and other domestic animals like sheep, goats, cats, dogs and horses. In the case of pigs, this virus is highly contagious. Pigs carrying Nipah virus are found to be highly infectious during the incubation period. This can last from 4 to 14 days. If pigs are noticed with unusual kind of barking cough or spotted with human cases of encephalitis, Nipah virus can be suspected. If this happens, serious measures must be taken to stop the spread of this deadly virus. Why is Nipah virus highly concerning? The fatality rate of Nipah virus infection is found to be 40% to 75%. This rate can, however, differ depending on the capabilities of the medical facilities available locally to treat the affected patients. About 20% of the patients who get out of Nipah virus infections remain with residual neurological effects like personality changes and seizure complaints. How WHO respond to Nipah virus? WHO has been taking several serious measures to stop the outbreak and spread of Nipah virus besides exploring ways to treat the Nipah virus affected people. WHO advice regarding the prevention of Nipah virus outbreak. There is a high risk of transmission of Nipah virus through the medium of fruits and fruit products like raw date palm juices contaminated with the saliva or urine of the infected fruit bats. This can be prevented by washing these products thoroughly before consumption. The other methods of preventing the Nipah virus spread is by peeling off these fruits and discarding the fruits that carry the signs of bat bites.

What Is Nipah Virus, causes, history and everything you should know

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], September 15 (ANI): In view of the <keyword id="6544034" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nipah-virus" source="Orion">Nipah virus</keyword> cases in Kerala, the <keyword id="2234081" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Karnataka-health-department" source="Orion">Karnataka Health Department</keyword> issued a circular on Thursday to intensify surveillance in the districts bordering Kerala to prevent the transmission of the infection. With one more case of <keyword id="6545212" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nipah" source="Orion">Nipah</keyword> virus confirmed in Kerala's Kozhikode on Friday, the total tally is now at 6, including 2 deaths. All cases have been recorded in Kozhikode. In the circular, the Karnataka Health Department advised district authorities to "Set up check posts for fever surveillance at points of entry from Karnataka to Kerala. Intensify fever surveillance in bordering districts such as Chamarajanagar, Mysore, Kodagu, and Dakshin Kannada." Moreover, the Karnataka Health Department has advised people to avoid unnecessary travel from Karnataka to affected areas in Kerala. Amid concerns over the <keyword id="6544038" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nipah-virus-in-Kerala" source="Orion">Nipah virus in Kerala</keyword>, the Kerala government on Thursday took 15 body-fluid samples of those in the 'high-risk' contact list linked to the first Nipah victim for testing. The contact list contains 950 people, of whom 213 are in the high-risk category. 287 health workers are also on the contact list. Four people in high-risk categories are in a private hospital, and 17 people are under surveillance at Kozhikode Medical College. Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, reviewed steps taken for containment of the Nipah virus outbreak in Kozhikode, Kerala, from the Indian Council of Medical Research - National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), in Pune, on Thursday. Following the Nipah virus outbreak in Kozhikode district, the District Collector has declared holidays for all educational institutions, including Anganwadis, Madrasas, tuition centres, and professional colleges, on September 16, in addition to the two-day holiday already declared for September 14 and September 15. Amid growing concerns over a resurgence of the Nipah virus in Kerala, the state government strengthened measures to prevent the spread of infection a day after two deaths from it were confirmed in Kozhikode district.

Nipah scare: Karnataka issues advisory for districts bordering Kerala

<ul><li>The southern state of <keyword id="28504" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kerala">Kerala</keyword> has been hit by the <keyword id="6544034" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="nipah-virus">Nipah virus</keyword>.</li><li>There have been nine deaths in Kerala’s Kozhikode due to high fever, and at least three have been caused by the virus. </li><li>The <keyword id="83655" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-health-ministry">Union Health Ministry</keyword> has sent a team to assist virus hit regions in Kerala.</li></ul><keyword id="6545212" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="nipah">Nipah</keyword> is on the <keyword id="43588" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Health-Organization">World Health Organization</keyword>'s list of viruses most likely to cause a global pandemic. It's the virus that inspired the 2011 movie <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sYSyuuLk5g">Contagion</a>. And just this past January, governments and philanthropists <a href="http://cepi.net/cepi-officially-launched">pledged</a> hundreds of millions of dollars to develop a Nipah vaccine because it poses such a big threat. The Nipah virus, one of the most deadly viruses on the World Health Organization list, has hit Kerala. The state health department has confirmed three deaths to be caused by Nipah virus in Kerala’s Kozhikode. At least nine people in Kozhikode died due to high fever, says a <a href="http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/kerala-9-die-due-to-high-fever-2-affected-with-nipah-virus-118052100239_1.html">report</a>. What is Nipah virus? How does it spread? The Nipah virus is carried by fruit <keyword id="92255" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bats">bats</keyword>, of the Pteropodidae family, Pteropus genus, and was first identified during an outbreak in Kampung Sungai Nipah in <keyword id="8695" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Malaysia">Malaysia</keyword> in 1998. The virus can cause diseases to human beings and animals. The disease can be transmitted both from animal-human and human-human contact. The virus can spread to humans through food contaminated by bat saliva or urine. India has had two reported outbreaks of Nipah virus, both the times in <keyword id="6357783" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="West-bengal">West Bengal</keyword>, once in 2001 and then in 2007. The total death toll during the outbreaks was fifty of the seventy-one reported cases. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the fatality rate of the virus is <a href="http://www.searo.who.int/entity/emerging_diseases/links/nipah_virus_outbreaks_sear/en/">75%</a> on an average. Symptoms of Nipah virus-affected patients: After the exposure, the virus has an incubation period of 5-14 days. Here are the symptoms of Nipah virus-affected patients: <ul><li>3-14 days of fever</li><li>Drowsiness</li><li>Disorientation and mental confusion</li><li>Respiratory illness</li></ul>Long-term effects of Nipah virus on affected humans: <ul><li>Inflammation of the brain</li><li>Nervous diseases</li><li>Persistent convulsions and personality changes.</li><li>Latent infection and reactivation of Nipah virus.</li></ul> Prevention The only way of prevention is to stay away from infected animals and not to eat fruits that have fallen to the ground as they might have been infected by the virus. Cure and Treatments The virus, as of now, does not have a cure. The primary treatment for humans is intensive care. Nipah virus in Kerala With the confirmation of Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala, and it leading to three deaths in Kozhikode, the Union Health Ministry has sent a team of experts to assist the state. In the past, the outbreaks were caused due to the disease transmission due to contacts from infected bats, pigs and people. Out of the three victims of Nipah virus, two are men and the third is a woman. The two men were brothers and the woman, a relative who visited them in hospital, said a report on <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/3-dead-from-mysterious-nipah-virus-in-kerala-centre-sends-team-10-points-1854897">NDTV</a>. People suspected to be affected by the virus are currently being monitored at the Kozhikode Medical College and a few other hospitals.

A rare virus carried by fruit bats may have just started to spread in India

<ul><li>After 3 confirmed <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> cases, Kerala fears mass cancellations from tourists </li><li>State tourism minister <keyword id="916683" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kadakampally-Surendran">Kadakampally Surendran</keyword> said the hotels have seen mass cancellations. </li><li>Business Insider India reached out to online travel portals like EaseMyTrip and Cleartrip to assess the impact of Coronavirus on <keyword id="6362858" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kerala-Tourism">Kerala Tourism</keyword>. They say that the demand remains strong as of now. </li></ul>The outbreak of <keyword id="8637381" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Coronavirus-in-Kerala">coronavirus in Kerala</keyword> has cast a shadow on the state’s vibrant tourist inflow. After the state reported<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/806-people-in-kerala-under-observation-for-coronavirus/articleshow/73754612.cms?upcache=2"> three confirmed coronavirus cases</a>, even its border states like <keyword id="6354780" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Karnataka">Karnataka</keyword> have turned alert. State tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran said the hotels have seen mass cancellations. “After the Nipah virus and deadly floods, the coronavirus outbreak has also adversely impacted the holiday industry as hotel bookings during February-March have been cancelled widely across the state, ''<a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/world/coronavirus-live-update-death-toll-jumps-to-425-hyundai-suspends-production-line-11580788423653.html"> he said in a press conference</a>. Business Insider India reached out to online travel portals like EaseMyTrip and Cleartrip to assess the impact of Coronavirus on Kerala Tourism. They say that the demand remains strong as of now. Too early to asses, say travel portals Balu Ramachandran, senior vice president of Cleartrip believes that it is very early to say conclusively if there will be any discernible impact on travel with respect to Coronavirus “As of now, we haven't received any updates from airlines for flight cancellations for Kerala. However, we have observed a few cancellations of hotel bookings especially of women travellers,” Prashant Pitti, co-founder and executive director of EaseMyTrip. If any, this will be the third time that the state’s tourism sector has been hit. Two years ago in August 2018, Kerala was swept away by deadly monsoon rains taking as many as 504 lives. In all, 23 million were affected and the losses for the state mounted to $2.7 billion. In June 2019, 17 people were killed in 21 days after catching Nipah virus infection (NiV) that too like Coronavirus has no cure. SEE ALSO : <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/fighting-wuhan-coronavirus-pictures-show-how-china-built-a-1000-bed-hospital-in-10-days/articleshow/73758306.cms">Fighting Wuhan Coronavirus: Pictures show how China built a 1000-bed hospital in 10 days</a>

Kerala’s tourism is infected following three confirmed cases of coronavirus

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Researchers have identified a virus that jumped from animals to humans in China.</li><li>A total of 35 human infections were recorded over two and a half years.</li></ul>Scientists in China have identified a virus that has infected humans for the first time, but the disease is unlikely to spread from person to person, based on the current evidence. The first person to fall ill with the newfound Langya henipavirus, or LayV, was a woman in Shandong province in late 2018, according to a peer-reviewed correspondence published in the <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2202705">New England Journal of Medicine</a>.The patient was a farmer with a history of animal exposure, so health officials suspected a possibility of disease spillover from an animal host. Testing later revealed that the virus was previously unseen in humans and may have originated in shrews.The woman's symptoms included fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, cough, and nausea, according to the report. Thirty-four more people — primarily farmers in Shandong and the neighboring Henan province — reported similar symptoms and tested positive for LayV between December 2018 and May 2021.Based on the information available, Langya virus poses a very low risk to the general population, infectious disease doctor Monica Gandhi told Insider. No one has died of Langya virus infection to date, and researchers have not found any evidence of human-to-human transmission."People should not be frightened about this spreading," said Gandhi, a professor of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco who was not associated with the NEJM report. "I think everyone is hyper-alert to new viruses, but I don't think this one is going to be a major threat." <h2>The virus was detected in wild shrews</h2>Researchers tested 25 small wild animal species for the Langya virus and found it was "predominantly detected" in shrews, according to the report. The authors concluded that the small, mole-like mammals may be a natural host for the virus.However, the connection between humans and shrews remains to be investigated, Gandhi said. It is not yet clear if something changed to push humans closer to shrews, or vice versa, or if another animal may be involved in the chain of transmission.Humans appear to be a dead end for the virus, but researchers said their sample was too small to be certain. They examined close contacts of nine patients infected with LayV and found no evidence of human-to-human transmission, and the people who got sick reported no common sources of exposure.<h2>Related viruses have caused small outbreaks with some fatalities</h2>The Langya virus is related to — but genetically distinct from — the Nipah and Hendra viruses, which have both caused fatal infections in humans. However, people who got sick with Langya virus had milder symptoms in comparison, Gandhi noted.All of the 26 patients found to be infected with LayV alone reported fevers. About half of them experienced fatigue, decreased white blood cell count, and cough. A few people experienced more severe symptoms, such as impaired kidney and liver function.People infected with previous henipaviruses in the past experienced similar fevers and flu-like symptoms, often with signs of respiratory illness. Fatality rates for Nipah and Hendra viruses range <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/nipah/about/index.html">between 40 and 70%,</a> according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Still, Nipah and Hendra viruses have caused relatively small outbreaks compared to COVID-19 — only seven human cases of <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/hendra/index.html">Hendra virus</a> have been reported since 1994, and <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/nipah/about/index.html">Nipah virus</a> infected some 300 people across Malaysia and Singapore in 1999.<h2>'We're in a different age now'</h2>Another key difference is that scientists today are better prepared to identify new viruses and make vaccines if necessary, Gandhi said."We're in a different age now, where I hope that we never have to go through what we went through with SARS-CoV-2, and where we can control things better," she said.

A new virus in China sparked panic after jumping from shrews to humans, but experts say it probably isn't as concerning as COVID. Here's why.

<ul><li>On 9 October, officials from the health department of <keyword id="6355588" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="rajasthan">Rajasthan</keyword> confirmed that there had been 29 verified cases of the <keyword id="3155474" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Zika-virus">Zika virus</keyword> in the state. </li><li>The first case of Zika was reported on 23 September in an 85-year old patient at the at the Sawai Man Singh Hospital in <keyword id="6354779" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jaipur">Jaipur</keyword>. </li><li>The virus, which is transferred through the Aedes aegypti mosquito, causes fever and rashes and is particularly harmful to pregnant women, as it can lead to <keyword id="903822" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="microcephaly">microcephaly</keyword> in newborn children. </li></ul>India’s has seen its fair share of <keyword id="44297" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Epidemic">epidemic</keyword> scares in recent years. In late 2014, the Ebola virus, which plagued West Africa for the better part of the year’s second half, reached New Delhi when a man tested positive for the disease after landing from Liberia. In 2017, three people in Gujarat tested positive for the Zika virus, which spread through South America in 2015 and 2016, affecting pregnant mothers. Earlier this year, in June, the state of Kerala was on high alert after 17 people died of the Nipah virus, which spreads from fruit bats. Last month, the Zika virus reared its head again, and this time it's quickly become the largest outbreak ever of the disease in India. On 9 October, officials from the health department of Rajasthan confirmed that there had been 29 verified cases of the Zika virus in the state. Following the news, the central government’s health ministry tried to assuage fears by claiming that the outbreak was under control. The first case of Zika was reported on <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/jaipur/rajasthan-health-department-on-toes-after-first-zika-casereported/story-nB3BCWc5nTLhIWxXqv82YN.html">23 September</a> in an 85-year old patient at the at the Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur. The virus, which is transferred through the Aedes aegypti mosquito, causes fever and rashes and is particularly harmful to pregnant women, as it can lead to microcephaly in newborn children. A majority of the current cases are limited to one particular area in Jaipur- Shastri Nagar. Since the first case was reported, the state government of Rajasthan has said it has tried to contain the damage while monitoring the full extent of the problem. It has placed more than 90 pregnant under watch, while checking 26,000 households and destroying 29,000 breeding grounds for mosquitoes in the locality, according to Veenu Gupta, a secretary in the state’s health ministry. For its part, the central government has also sent a team comprising officials from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme to Jaipur to keep tabs on the situation and assist state government officials. Around five labs have been set up all over the state to test blood samples from patients suspected of contracting the virus.

India is dealing with its largest ever outbreak of the Zika virus

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Paul Hackett/Reuters</div></div></div>In partnership with several world leaders, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has launched a coalition to prevent pandemics through the development of new vaccines.The <a href="http://cepi.net/">Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations</a> (CEPI) was announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on January 18.Governments from Germany, Japan, and Norway have pooled funds along with the Gates Foundation to raise a total of $490 million so far. The target is $1 billion, which CEPI says will help finance the first five years of research and development."Ebola and Zika showed that the world is tragically unprepared to detect local outbreaks and respond quickly enough to prevent them from becoming global pandemics," Bill Gates said in a statement. "Without investments in research and development, we will remain unequipped when we face the next threat."Between 2014 and the end of 2016, when Ebola and Zika outbreaks hit their peak, cases rose into the hundreds of thousands. Roughly half of all Ebola cases in West Africa - or some <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/case-counts.html">286,000 diagnoses</a>, according to the CDC - led to death. They were concentrated primarily in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.The first viruses CEPI will target are MERS-CoV, Lassa, and Nipah viruses. The coalition will seek to develop two vaccines for each virus, which emergency responders can administer in the event of an outbreak. It'll also look to defend against new strains of Ebola and Zika should they crop up.CEPI has called on other world leaders for support in raising the remaining $510 million. As the coalition gathers momentum, Gates suspects the added brainpower will also lead to faster innovation."CEPI is a great example of how supporting innovation and R&amp;D can help the world to address some of its most pressing health challenges," he said.One of the greatest challenges public-health agencies face is recognizing an outbreak of infectious disease and containing its spread.With certain viruses that tend to be a bit milder, such as the flu virus, agencies<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/summary.htm"> can look at data</a> from doctor and hospital visits to know where the virus has spread. Vaccines also work to prevent that spread from ever taking place. With deadlier viruses, ones for which there are no vaccines, the spread can lead to death long before experts know where it's headed and who's most at-risk.One of CEPI's major long-term goals is to reduce the chance a group could miss an outbreak or fail to stop a spread within a reasonable amount of time."For new vaccines to be game changers, they must be developed and tested before outbreaks hit and made accessible and affordable for all communities in times of health crisis," Dr. Joanne Liu, International President of Doctors Without Borders, said in a statement. "These are the conditions that will determine CEPI's success and ensure this new initiative saves lives." <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-sachs-anti-vaccine-fatal-flaw-vaxxers-california-2015-6">Watch Jeff Sachs destroy the anti-vaccine movement in under two minutes</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="hxODJ2dTpawTVla74Re0bzweFZzZsXIe" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

Bill Gates is teaming up with world leaders to stop the next deadly pandemic

What Is Chamki Fever/Acute Encephalitis Syndrome Chamki fever or encephalitis is an inflammatory condition of the brain resulting in a variety of associated symptoms. Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) causes an acute-onset of fever associated with headache and most commonly reported in children and young adults. This illness brings about an alarming rate of morbidity and mortality. The recent outbreak of chamki fever in Bihar resulted in over 100 deaths in Muzaffarpur and its adjoining regions in the state of Bihar, India. Most notably, the similar outbreak of chamki fever resulted in about 700 deaths in 2014. Predominantly, chamki fever affects children and young adults in the age group of 1 to 10. The name chamki bukhar means fever condition associated with a seizure. Reports say that chamki fever or AES has spread in over 12 districts of Bihar including Muzaffarpur, Vaishali and East Champaran with Muzaffarpur declared as the worst hit zone. What is Chamki Fever or Acute Encephalitis Syndrome Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) or chamki fever is a highly serious public health problem in India. It manifests as an acute onset of fever and a seriously affected mental condition resulting in confusion, disorientation, delirium, or coma. The affected individual may experience seizures. Chamki fever can happen in any age and at any time of the year. Muzaffarpur, Bihar and adjoining areas in Bihar are litchi producing districts. This disease mostly spreads far and wide in the months between April and June especially in children who are undernourished with a history of consuming litchis from the neighboring orchards. Causes of Chamki fever or Acute Encephalitis Syndrome Viruses are said to be the main agents causing AES. However, other sources like bacteria, fungus, chemicals, parasites, spirochetes, toxins, and some noninfectious agents have also been noted to cause chamki fever as studied over the past few decades. Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is identified as the major cause of AES in India. The percentage of this agent ranges from 5-35 percent. Nipah virus and Zika virus are also said to be AES causing agents. In some cases. The other agents causing chamki fever include Influenza A virus, simplex virus, mumps, dengue, West Parvovirus B4, Nile virus, Epstein-Barr virus Chandipura virus, measles, enteroviruses, scrub typhus, and S pneumonia. Symptoms of chamki fever or Encephalitis Some of the prominent and most common symptoms of chamki fever include High temperature, Headache, extreme sensitivity to light, stiff neck and back, nausea, and mental confusion. In severe cases of chamki fever, seizures and paralysis can result. Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) As discussed so far, JEV is identified as the major cause of AES in India. This virus is spread by mosquitos and it is a kind of flavivirus. This virus belongs to the same genus like dengue, yellow fever, and West Nile viruses. So far no cure has been discovered for chamki fever. The treatment available now focuses mainly on relieving the severe clinical symptoms found in the affected persons and supporting the patients to overcome the infective condition. Treatment for chamki fever or Encephalitis The affected persons must be treated immediately to avoid severe complications. The patients must be admitted to the Intensive Care unit or ICU to prevent any kinds of major mishaps. Chamki fever can be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs including Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen and Naproxen Sodium which can bring down the temperature and headache. Majority of cases reported with chamki fever can get resolved in a matter of a few days. However, some severe cases can take about a few weeks to recover.

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