Nipah Virus- Do's and Don'ts

Understanding the Timeline: How the Virus Starts

The nipah virus characteristics are deceptive. After exposure—perhaps from drinking raw date palm sap or contact with an infected person—the virus doesn’t show up immediately. It has an incubation period usually ranging from 4 to 14 days. In some rare cases, it can stay dormant for up to 45 days.

This “silent period” is dangerous because you might feel fine while the virus incubates. Once active, the illness often progresses in two distinct phases: the “Flu-like Phase” and the “Severe Phase.”

Phase 1: Early Symptoms of Nipah Virus (The “Flu-Like” Stage)

The first signs are non-specific, which is why they are often ignored. If you or a family member develops these symptoms, especially after travel to affected districts or consuming raw date palm sap, pay close attention.

Common early Symptoms of Nipah Virus include:

• Sudden High Fever: Unlike a slow-building cold, this fever often spikes quickly.
• Severe Headache: A throbbing pain that doesn’t easily go away with rest.
• Muscle Pain (Myalgia): Deep body aches, often making it hard to get out of bed.
• Sore Throat: Scratchiness or pain when swallowing.
• Vomiting and Nausea:  This is common in the initial days.

At this stage, it looks exactly like influenza or COVID-19. However, the context matters. If you have these symptoms and have a history of exposure (like drinking khejur rash), it warrants immediate medical investigation.

Phase 2: The Danger Zone (Neurological Signs)

This is where the Nipah virus disease becomes distinct and dangerous. Unlike the flu, Nipah has a strong tendency to attack the brain. This condition is called encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).

Here are the significant, alarming signs to note:

• Dizziness and Drowsiness: One may feel excessively sleepy or “out of it.”
• Less Consciousness: Confusion about time, place, or people.
• Respiratory Distress: Acute difficulty in breathing, similar to pneumonia.
• Seizures: Uncontrolled shaking or convulsions.
• Coma: In severe cases, a patient can slip into a coma within 24 to 48 hours of these neurological signs appearing.

If you notice any mental confusion or breathing trouble accompanying a fever, this is a medical emergency. Rush to your nearest hospital with critical care facilities, like Eskag Sanjeevani Hospitals in North Kolkata, immediately.

How is Nipah Virus Detected?

Because the early symptoms are so generic, Nipah Virus detection is a specialised process. You cannot diagnose it with a simple home kit or a standard blood count test.

Doctors look for the virus using advanced laboratory techniques. The timing of the test matters:

1. Early Stage (During Illness)

• RT-PCR (Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction): This is the gold standard. We collect throat, nasal, urine, or blood samples to test for the virus’s genetic material.
• CSF Analysis: If neurological symptoms are present, a sample of spinal fluid (Cerebrospinal Fluid) might be tested.

2. Later Stage (Recovery or Post-Illness)

ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay): This test looks for antibodies (IgM and IgG) that your body produced to fight the virus. It confirms if you had a nipah virus infection in the past.

At Eskag Sanjeevani Hospitals, our protocol involves immediate isolation of suspected cases while the samples are sent to government-authorised high-containment laboratories (such as NIV Pune or NICED Kolkata) for confirmation, ensuring the safety of all patients.

Nipah Virus Prevention: Your Daily Defence

Since there is no specific cure, nipah virus prevention is your only true medicine. Based on the latest Nipah virus updates, here are the most effective steps for families in West Bengal:

• Avoid Raw Date Palm Sap: We cannot stress this enough. Bats often drink from the clay pots at night, contaminating the sap. Boil it before drinking, or stick to Nolen Gur.
• Wash Fruit Thoroughly: Bats bite into mangoes, guavas, and litchis. Discard any fruit with bite marks or signs of damage. Peel fruits before eating.
• Isolate from Sick Animals: Avoid contact with pigs or bats. If you have fruit trees, consider netting them.
• Caregiver Safety: If caring for someone with a fever, wear a mask and wash hands frequently. Human-to-human transmission is possible through body fluids.

Nipah Virus Characteristics: Why It Is Different

One of the unique nipah virus characteristics is its high mortality rate, which can range from 40% to 75%. This is significantly higher than COVID-19 or the flu.

Another characteristic is its potential for “Late Onset Encephalitis.” In rare cases, the virus can reactivate in a survivor months or even years later, causing brain inflammation again. This is why long-term follow-up with a neurologist is essential for anyone who recovers from the infection.

Latest Nipah Virus Updates for West Bengal

According to the January 2026 report, health authorities in West Bengal are on high alert due to suspected cases in border districts, including North 24 Parganas.

We, the team of Eskag Sanjeevani Hospitals Kolkata, are closely monitoring these Nipah virus updates. We are equipped with triage protocols to effectively separate potentially infectious patients from others. We advise the public not to panic but to remain vigilant. If you see news of an outbreak in your specific district, strictly increase your hygiene measures.