Bangladesh recorded its first Nipah virus fatality of the year on Monday, as a man succumbed to the brain-damaging illness after consuming raw date juice.
The Nipah virus, transmitted to humans through contact with bodily fluids of infected bats, pigs, or other individuals, was first identified in 1999 during an outbreak in Malaysia affecting farmers and those in contact with pigs.
The recent case was reported in Manikganj, approximately 50 km from Dhaka, marking Bangladesh's first Nipah virus case in 2024, according to Tahmina Shirin, director of the health ministry's Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control, and Research (IEDCR).
After a positive laboratory test, it was determined that the individual had consumed raw date sap. The health ministry is cautioning the public against consuming fruits partially eaten by birds or bats and drinking raw date juice.
There are currently no specific treatments or vaccines for the Nipah virus.
In 2023, Bangladesh witnessed 14 Nipah virus infections, with 10 resulting in fatalities—the highest number of deaths in seven years, as reported by the IEDCR.
Symptoms of Nipah virus infection include fever, headache, cough, and difficulty breathing, often followed by brain swelling. The fatality rate is estimated to range from 40% to 75%, according to the World Health Organization.
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