Human Nipah virus (NiV) infection, an emerging zoonotic disease, was first recognized in a large outbreak in Malaysia and Singapore from September 1998 through May 1999. The disease also occurs in Bangladesh. Nipah surveillance in Bangladesh began in 2006. NiV is a highly pathogenic paramyxovirus belonging to genus Henipavirus. The virus is transmitted through drinking of raw date palm sap (kancha khejurer rosh) contaminated with NiV or by close physical contact with Nipah infected patients.
This year, as of 6 April 2013, 24 cases of Nipah virus infection have been reported in Bangladesh, of which 21 cases have died since the beginning of 2013. These cases are from 13 different districts and include persons of 8 months age to 60 years. Sixteen cases are in males and eight in females.
Source: Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control & Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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