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Nipah virus explained: What is it and why is the deadly infection flaring up again?


India is on high alert after a resurgence of the potentially deadly Nipah virus (NiV), which has killed at least two people in recent days and sparked the testing of hundreds more in southern Kerala state.

It’s the third time in five years that the brain-damaging virus, which can spread from bats and pigs to humans, has surfaced in the Kozhikode district of Kerala.

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In a 2018 outbreak, 21 people died before it was contained. The virus has previously been detected in countries including Singapore and Malaysia. Here’s what you need to know about it:

What is Nipah virus?

Nipah is a zoonotic virus — meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans — which can cause a severe respiratory infection and attack the brain, according to the World Health Organization. It was first detected in 1999 during an outbreak among Malaysian pig farmers, and was also found in Singapore. While no new infections have occurred in either location, there have been periodic flare-ups in Bangladesh and India since 2001.

How is Nipah virus transmitted?

The Malaysian outbreak is believed to have been caused by the virus spreading from infected pigs to humans. But in India and Bangladesh, the most likely transmission path is thought to be from the consumption of fruit products — such as date palm sap — contaminated by the urine or saliva of infected fruit bats, according to the WHO. The health organization said a high percentage of subsequent outbreaks likely involved human-to-human transmission.

What are the symptoms of Nipah infections?

Symptoms usually begin with a fever and headache, often accompanied by signs of respiratory illness like a cough or sore throat, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They may appear any time within two weeks of exposure to the virus. The infection can worsen, leading to disorientation, seizures and encephalitis — a swelling of the brain — which may put patients into a coma within 24 to 48 hours.

How dangerous is it?

India is right to be concerned. An estimated 40 percent to 75 percent of infected patients die from the virus, with the mortality rate varying from outbreak to outbreak.

How is Nipah virus treated?

There are no Nipah vaccines available for humans or animals, nor are there any effective treatments other than supportive care. Researchers are currently developing monoclonal antibodies — immunotherapeutic drugs that would directly fight the virus — but no licensed treatments are yet available, according to the CDC.

Compassionate use of experimental compounds have been offered previously, and local media are reporting that India is working to make monoclonal antibodies available. In the case of the Kerala outbreak, authorities are using patient contact tracing in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.

Which other countries have reported Nipah?

So far, the virus has been confined to Asian countries: India, Bangladesh, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines

Are animal-human viral transmissions on the rise?

Scientists have suggested that factors such as climate change and deforestation are increasing the risk of animal-human crossover infections. In the case of the Nipah outbreak in Malaysia, “agricultural intensification” was thought to have created a pathway for the virus to spread from fruitbats to pigs and then to humans. Zoonosis is common, accounting for more than six out of every 10 known infectious diseases in people, according to the CDC. Most of the time the infections cause limited disease, dying out without having a major impact. However, in the aftermath of COVID-19, more tracking systems now are in place and picking up novel pathogens.

Read more:

India imposes curbs after two die of Nipah virus in southern Kerala state

India’s Kerala closes schools, banks in seven villages due to Nipah virus deaths

The Last of Us: Man in India infected with deadly plant fungus in world’s first

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Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

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At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

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US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM

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