Virus News

The Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly contagious and potentially deadly virus that causes severe respiratory illness and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in humans and animals. It was first identified in 1998–99 during an outbreak in Malaysia and Singapore, primarily affecting pig farmers. Since then, it has caused several outbreaks, particularly in South and Southeast Asia, including India and Bangladesh.

Authorities reported that health department teams conducted door-to-door surveys of over 3,000 residents in the affected area, collecting and testing samples of water, food, and other materials. 

The government has deployed various health teams to collect samples to identify and address the potential health risks, the officials said.

The Takla virus has caused a sense of panic in Maharashtra's Buldhana district. Residents of Buldhana are terrified of the dangerous illness.

The monkeypox virus is spreading rapidly in African countries. A science journal has issued a warning that the virus could spread across the entire continent. After being first reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), it has since spread to Uganda and Kenya.  

Precautionary measures including contact tracing, isolation of high-risk contacts, and public health advisories are underway.  

Naegleria fowleri typically enters the body through the nose when contaminated water is forcefully inhaled. This can happen during activities like swimming, diving, or using a neti pot for nasal irrigation. Once inside the nasal passages, the amoeba travels along the olfactory nerve to the brain. 

In adults, it has been linked to Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) and is known to affect human Schwann cells, that play an important role in supporting the development, function, and regeneration of peripheral nerves linked to movement, breathing, heartbeat, and digestion, among others.

The advisory mentioned that access to farms should be restricted, and stringent hygiene protocols, including the use of disinfectant footbaths and protective clothing, should be enforced. 

Humans frequently spread viruses to wild and domestic animals, increasing their risk of disease, finds a study, challenging the long-held theory that humans are a sink for viruses.  

The World Health Organization (WHO), had also alerted the world of the possibility of an "inevitable" next pandemic, dubbed "Disease X" in 2018 before the COVID-19 outbreak.