The emergence of new diseases are triple the amount compared to the number of medicinal discoveries. That’s how at present, a state named Kerala in India has become the prey of a deadly virus harbored by fruit bats named the Nipah Virus (NiV). Currently, it is restricted to the area but could become a pandemic at any time.

NiV was first discovered in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998-1999 where around 250 infected cases and 100 deaths were reported. Between 2001 and 2004, NiV caused a deadly outbreak in Bangladesh followed by the West Bengal state in India.

NiV is transmitted through the bodily fluids of animals and infected humans. The incubation period ranges from 7 to 40 days. Symptoms include fever, headaches, joint pain, vomiting, stomach pain, drowsiness and disorientation. Advanced stages lead to instant brain fever and death. Unfortunately, the diagnosis is usually made too late and by that time the patient would have breathed their last.

Maintenance of regular hygiene like washing hands and food items properly is the only solution to prevent NiV. Immediate hospitalization followed by intensive support care would be the only alternative since no treatment is available. But medical staff treating NiV patients are at risk since hospital infrastructures are not equipped with the required advanced Biosafety level 3 to deal with the highly infectious disease.

There is however hope! Indian scientist Dr. Anand Ranganathan from the Special Centre for Molecular Medicine at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, has stated that the medicine named Favipiravir could save lives.  He said, “Contact Toyama Chemical Company in Japan immediately and stock up on Favipiravir (Trade name Avigan, 600 mg). Every life is precious; every life must be saved”.