The document summarizes an outbreak of the Nipah virus in India in 2018. Key points:
- Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus that was first identified during an outbreak in Malaysia in 1999. Fruit bats are the natural host.
- An outbreak occurred in Kerala, India in 2018, the third outbreak in India after 2001 and 2007. Rapid urbanization and climate change may have contributed to the reemergence.
- Symptoms in humans range from mild flu-like symptoms to severe encephalitis. There is no vaccine and treatment involves intensive supportive care. Ribavirin may help but its efficacy is limited. Further research on vaccines and treatments is ongoing.