The COVID-19 pandemic has been going on for a year and a half.
During all this time, more than 4.6 million people around the world have become victims of coronavirus infection.
In addition, humanity may face another deadly disease. We are talking about a disease caused by the Nipah virus.
Scientists became aware of this pathogen more than 20 years ago.
Nipah was identified in the Asian country of Malaysia. The carriers of the infection are pigs, flying foxes and bats.
Cases of people becoming infected with this virus have already been recorded around the world. In recent days, it has become known about several infected Indian residents.
Most often, the pathogen entered the body after contact with infected animals.
However, a person can become infected without “communication” with representatives of the fauna. Sometimes it is enough to eat a fruit that has been contaminated by a virus carrier.
What is the danger of Nipah
Of greatest concern is the very high mortality rate from this viral infection. This figure is estimated at 40-75 percent.
The difference between the pathogen is its very rapid spread.
The main manifestations of the disease are elevated body temperature, fatigue, breathing problems, and headache. Those infected may experience encephalitis and fall into a coma.
Although, as in the case of coronavirus infection, an asymptomatic course of the disease is not excluded.
What the WHO says
As reported in foreign media, the World Health Organization includes the Nipah pathogen in the list of viruses that pose a serious danger to people.
It is noted that at the moment there is no cure for the disease.
The same can be said about the Nipah vaccine: it has not yet been created.
