Reference:

• The National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has developed a portable Point-of-Care (PoC) test kit for the rapid detection of the Nipah virus.

Technical Features:

• The kit is based on Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) technology, which allows isothermal amplification of viral DNA/RNA—i.e., identification of genetic material at a constant temperature.
• Due to this technology, the kit can deliver fast, accurate, and reliable results even outside laboratory settings, within a few minutes.
• The kit has been patented and will be deployed in high-risk zones.

Significance and Utility:

Rapid Diagnosis:

• This kit can detect Nipah virus infection in just a few minutes, enabling timely treatment and isolation. Fast results are extremely crucial in preventing outbreaks.

Accessibility and Portability:

• The kit is compact, lightweight, and battery-operated, making it ideal for use in remote, rural, or resource-limited areas. It enhances the reach of healthcare services.

Early Containment:

• Early detection of infection allows for immediate isolation of the patient, helping to break the chain of transmission and prevent community spread.

Protection for Healthcare Workers:

• Early diagnosis enables healthcare workers to take proper precautionary measures, thereby ensuring their safety.

Pandemic Management:

• Mass screening and rapid testing enable health departments to identify and control hotspots of infection effectively.

Applications:

Field Testing:

• The kit is highly useful for instant testing at hospitals, quarantine centers, airports, border areas, and crowded places.

Mass Screening:

• Large-scale testing of suspected contacts can be conducted to implement preventive measures in time.

Low Cost:

• Compared to lab-based testing, this kit is cost-effective, making it accessible in low-resource regions.

Patient Management:

• Rapid identification of positive cases speeds up treatment, contact tracing, and case tracking.

Nipah Virus (NiV):

• A zoonotic virus (transmitted from animals to humans).
• First identified in 1998 in the village of Nipah, Malaysia – hence the name.
• The first case in India was reported in 2001 in West Bengal, and later in Kerala.
• The virus is primarily transmitted by fruit bats (Pteropus species).
• Nipah virus causes encephalitis and belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family and Henipavirus genus. It is closely related to the Hendra virus.

Sources of Infection:

• Infected bats or pigs
• Bodily fluids (saliva, urine, blood) from an infected person
• Contaminated fruits or juices (such as date palm sap)

Symptoms:

• High fever, headache, dizziness, confusion, difficulty breathing, seizures, and even coma.

Global Context and Mortality:

• From 1998 to 2018, more than 700 cases were reported across India, Malaysia, and Bangladesh.
• In 2001, India’s first outbreak occurred in West Bengal with a mortality rate of 74%.
• In 2007, a second outbreak in the same region saw a 100% mortality rate.
• The third major outbreak occurred in 2018 in Kerala, resulting in 16 deaths.