A health official stands outside the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital ward, which has been converted into a Nipah virus isolation ward on September 06, 2021 in Kozhikode, India. (Photo by C. K Thanseer/DeFodi images via Getty Images)
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Nipah infection typically starts with flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. In some cases, patients may also develop respiratory problems such as coughing or pneumonia.
Symptoms usually appear within four to 14 days after exposure.
First identified in 1999
The most serious complication linked to Nipah is encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that can lead to confusion, seizures, or coma. Even those who survive may suffer lasting neurological problems, such as ongoing seizures or changes in personality.
Nipah was first identified in 1999 during an outbreak in Malaysia and Singapore, where pig farmers and others who had close contact with infected pigs became ill.
Since that time, outbreaks have been recorded across parts of South Asia, including Bangladesh, northeastern India, and the southern Indian state of Kerala.