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7 pathogens that have high chances of sparking a pandemic in 2024 as per WHO

Thiruvananthapuram, Citing an ICMR report, the Kerala government on Wednesday said that there was a possibility of <keyword id="6544034" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nipah-virus" source="Orion">Nipah virus</keyword> presence in bats in Wayanad district of the state. State Health Minister Veena George said that the Indian Council of Medical Research gave this information based on its studies of the bat samples collected by it. The minister said that it does not mean there were fresh cases of the virus in that district and was only intended to caution and alert the state's health system and the general public. She said that not only in Wayanad, there was a possibility of the virus' presence in bats in other districts also. George was speaking to reporters about the current status of the Nipah outbreak in the state which had infected six people in Kozhikode district last month and of whom two had died. The minister said that all those people who were on the contact list of those infected had completed their isolation and quarantine periods. She also said that it was a matter of pride that the state was able to restrict Nipah's mortality rate, which is around 70-90 per cent, to 33 per cent. The minister also referred to the various measures, like issuance of Kozhikode-specific standard operating protocols (SOPs), taken by the government to combat the virus. Additionally, a Kerala One Health Centre for Nipah Research has also been created, she said. Presently, there will be a consolidation of the field activities of all departments with regard to public health and will be a part of the Kozhikode Medical College, the minister said. However, moving forward, the intention is to develop it as an independent research institute with its own infrastructure, she said. Of the two deaths due to Nipah, the first person who died on August 30 was found to be the index case, or patient zero, from whom others caught the infection. The outbreak of the virus this year was the fourth in the state since 2018.

Possibility of Nipah virus presence in bats in Wayanad: Kerala govt

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

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

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

Chinatopix/AP Medical workers in protective gear talk with a woman suspected of being ill with a <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> at a community health station in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province, January 27, 2020. <ul class="summary-list"><li>A <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-virus-everything-we-know-deadly-2019-ncov-wuhan-spread-2020-1">coronavirus</a> that originated in Wuhan, China, has killed at least 170 people and infected more than 8,000.</li><li>Coronaviruses are zoonotic diseases, meaning they <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wuhan-coronavirus-chinese-wet-market-photos-2020-1">can pass from animals to humans</a>. Both this virus and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-wuhan-coronavirus-compared-to-sars-2020-1">SARS</a> likely originated in bats, then jumped to people.</li><li>In the last 50 years, at least 10 infectious diseases have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wuhan-coronavirus-many-other-disease-outbreaks-to-come-2020-1">jumped from animals to people</a>. </li><li>Here's how the <keyword id="8629628" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="wuhan-coronavirus">Wuhan coronavirus</keyword> compares to other major outbreaks.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>Since December 31, the Wuhan coronavirus has killed at least 170 people and infected more than 8,000 across 20 countries, including the US. The outbreak isn't currently considered a <keyword id="43587" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="pandemic">pandemic</keyword>, however, despite its rapid spread. The World Health Organization has not declared it a global public-health emergency either, in part because China has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wuhan-coronavirus-officials-quarantine-entire-city-2020-1">quarantined Wuhan</a> and other nearby cities to stop the virus' spread. Here's how the Wuhan outbreak compares to other major virus outbreaks in the last 50 years. So far, the coronavirus has the lowest fatality rate. 
 
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 The chart above does not include mosquito-borne viruses like Zika, malaria, and Dengue fever. <h2>All of these diseases jumped from animals to people</h2>According to experts, the new coronavirus likely originated in bats. More than <a href="https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/infectious-diseases-conditions/world-zoonoses-day-most-emerging-infectious-diseases-originate">75% of emerging diseases</a> originate in animals; these are called zoonotic diseases, meaning they can jump from animals to people. At least 10 outbreaks in the last century have spilled over to humans from mammals like bats, birds, and pigs. Ebola jumped from fruit bats in west Africa 40 years ago and has killed more than 13,500 people in multiple outbreaks. The Marberg virus, SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), MERS (Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome), and <keyword id="6545212" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="nipah">Nipah</keyword> also originated in bats. The H7N9 and H5N9 bird flus, meanwhile, jumped from infected poultry to people in Chinese markets, together killing more than 1,000 people. Teh Eng Koon/AFP/Getty A Chinese poultry seller waits for customers behind freshly slaughtered chickens on sale at a wet market in Beijing, July 3, 2007. The 2009-2010 swine flu pandemic (also known as H1N1) started, of course, in pigs. It killed nearly 300,000 people in a global pandemic and spread to 214 countries in less than a year. According to experts, diseases will continue to spill over from animals to humans as the global population grows. The more people there are on Earth, the more our species moves into wild habitats and encounters creatures that harbor viruses. "Infectious diseases will continue to emerge and re-emerge. I think it's part of the world we live in now," Eric Toner, a senior scientist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wuhan-coronavirus-many-other-disease-outbreaks-to-come-2020-1">previously told Business Insider</a>. "We're in an age of epidemics because of globalization, because of encroachment on wild environments." Read more about the Wuhan coronavirus: <ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-virus-everything-we-know-deadly-2019-ncov-wuhan-spread-2020-1">The Wuhan coronavirus has killed at least 170 people and infected more than 8,000. Here's everything we know about the outbreak.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/scientist-simulated-coronavirus-pandemic-deaths-2020-1">Health experts issued an ominous warning about a coronavirus pandemic 3 months ago. The virus in their simulation could kill 65 million people.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wuhan-coronavirus-officials-quarantine-entire-city-2020-1">Wuhan, China, and at least 15 other cities have been quarantined as China attempts to halt the spread of the coronavirus. That's about 50 million people on lockdown.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-protect-yourself-from-coronavirus-wuhan-2020-1">The Wuhan coronavirus has spread to at least 20 countries. Here's how to protect yourself while traveling.</a></li></ul><a></a>Featured Digital Health Articles: - <a>Telehealth Industry: Benefits, Services &amp; Examples</a> - <a>Value-Based Care Model: Pay-for-Performance Healthcare</a> - <a>Senior Care &amp; Assisted Living Market Trends</a> - <a>Smart Medical Devices: Wearable Tech in Healthcare</a> - <a>AI in Healthcare</a> - <a>Remote Patient Monitoring Industry: Devices &amp; Market Trends</a>

One chart shows how the Wuhan coronavirus compares to other major outbreaks and pandemics in the last 50 years

<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

<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

The government's <keyword id="20039960" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="One-Health-approach" source="keywords">One Health approach</keyword> is vital for both predicting as well as preventing any future <keyword id="21218421" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="zoonotic-outbreaks" source="keywords">zoonotic outbreaks</keyword> (disease that jumps from animals to humans), health experts opined on Saturday, ahead of the <keyword id="135993" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-health-day" source="Orion">World Health Day</keyword> which is marked every year on April 7. This year's theme '<keyword id="21218422" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="my-health" source="Orion">My Health</keyword>, <keyword id="21218423" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="my-right" source="Orion">My Right</keyword>' focuses on equal access to quality health care. "The government's focus on the '<keyword id="6494932" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="one-health" source="Orion">One Health</keyword>' approach, recognising the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health, is vital for predicting and preventing future zoonotic disease outbreaks," Dr. Rohit Garg, consultant, infectious disease, Amrita Hospital Faridabad, told IANS. The experts noted that the country's response to recent outbreaks of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Nipah virus demonstrates its evolving capacity to manage infectious diseases, adding that lessons from each event have helped the country improve its preparedness for future pandemics, including the hypothetical <keyword id="6328063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Disease-X" source="Orion">Disease X</keyword>. "India's response to recent disease outbreaks has been moulded by our experience with Covid-19. Recent moves to expand the existing network of biosafety-level 3 and 4 laboratories, to expand surveillance for respiratory viruses, invest in diagnostic infrastructure, and formulate a One Health approach towards emerging diseases are welcome and important steps towards tackling such challenges," Gautam Menon, Dean, Research and Professor of Physics and Biology, Ashoka University, told IANS. Besides ramping up testing facilities, expanding healthcare infrastructure, contact tracing during the pandemic and the vaccination drive were among India's significant measures. The latter was one of the largest globally, with India also developing an indigenous vaccine, Covaxin, alongside deploying other vaccines. "These actions highlighted the country's ability to mobilise vast resources and innovate under pressure," said Dr Rohit. Similarly, during the Nipah virus outbreaks, although more localised, India employed rapid response teams, enhanced surveillance and implemented containment measures. "India, post-pandemic, is very different in terms of capacity for pathogen surveillance and pandemic prevention or control when compared to pre-pandemic times. This is partly infrastructural, in terms of greater scientific and health capacity, but mostly structural in terms of better-defined roles for existing organisations, and creation of new multi-stakeholder institutions e.g. for OneHealth," Anurag Agrawal, Dean of Bio Sciences and Health Research at Trivedi School of Biosciences at Ashoka University, told IANS.

Ahead of World Health Day, experts reiterate importance of govt's One Health approach in preventing future zoonotic outbreaks

<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.

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7 pathogens that have high chances of sparking a pandemic in 2024 as per WHO

BI India Bureau

Possibility of Nipah virus presence in bats in Wayanad: Kerala govt

PTI

Nipah scare: Karnataka issues advisory for districts bordering Kerala

ANI

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

BI India Bureau

All you need to know about Nipah Virus Symptoms and Treatment

BI India Bureau

One chart shows how the Wuhan coronavirus compares to other major outbreaks and pandemics in the last 50 years

Aylin Woodward,Shayanne Gal

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

BI India Bureau

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

Kevin Loria

Ahead of World Health Day, experts reiterate importance of govt's One Health approach in preventing future zoonotic outbreaks

IANS

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.

Andrea Michelson

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