Nipah Virus-associated Encephalitis Outbreak, Siliguri, India

Authors: Mandeep S. Chadha, James A. Comer, Luis Lowe, Paul A. Rota, Pierre E. Rollin, William J. Bellini, Thomas G. Ksiazek, Akhilesh C. Mishra

Year: 2001

Journal: Not specified in the text

DOI: Not specified in the text

PMID: Not specified in the text

Summary

An outbreak of febrile illness associated with altered sensorium was observed in Siliguri, India. Laboratory investigations initially failed to identify an infectious agent, but retrospective analysis detected NiV-specific antibodies and RNA in 9 patients and 5 urine samples respectively.

Key Findings

NiV-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibodies were detected in 9 of 18 patients.
Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) assays detected RNA from NiV in urine samples from 5 patients.

Methodology

Study Type: Retrospective analysis
Sample Size: 18 patients
Geographic Focus: Siliguri, India and Bangladesh
Time Period: January - February 2001

Topics

Epidemiology, Virology

Relevance

This paper reports the first detection of Nipah virus in India, expanding the geographic range of this zoonotic disease.

Source

View the entire paper: File:05-1247.pdf