Abstract
Background
Nipah virus (NiV) is re-emerging zoonotic RNA virus belonging to Paramyxoviridae family. Suspecting Nipah virus in a NiV naive tropical area is a challenge. NiV management is further confounded by acute presentation, high mortality, broad species tropism, multiple modes of transmission, difficulty to diagnose and lack of definitive treatment.
Methods
Recent NiV outbreak that lasted for approximately 1 month (2–29 May 2018) and resulted in 23 cases with a case-fatality rate of 91%. We present clinical summary and management of five cases managed at Baby Memorial Hospital, Kozhikode, India from May 17, 2018 to May 30, 2018 and were epidemiologically linked to the index case. All patients presented with initial nonspecific prodromal symptoms of fever, muscle pain, watery diarrhea. Median age was 53 years, four were males, median hospital stay was 3 days, median incubation period of was days. Further complications, included encephalitis with viral bronchopneumonia/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in 100 %, patients, encephalitis with viral bronchopneumonia/ARDS with myocarditis in 60 %patients, despite attempted therapy with ribavirin all patients developed cardiorespiratory arrest and succumbed to the illness.
Results
Hematological Investigations showed normal TLC with a mean of 7,920 cells/ mm3, mild thrombocytopenia (mean 1,57,800) high Hb 16.12(SD1.10), ESR 19 mm/hr, DLC-N 82% high relative neutrophilic cytosis. Normal liver and renal function, Na+ 133 meq/L. CSF analysis showed high opening pressure, 100% lymphocytic pleocytosis, mean CSF sugar 118 mg/100mL, CSF protein 73.6. CT chest -bilateral airspace opacities and ground glassing. Brain FLAIR sequence showed nonspecific hyperintensities in white matter and brainstem correlating with vasculitic changes. Laboratory diagnosis of NiV was made by Real-Time RT–PCR on throat swab, blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid by Manipal virus research center and National Institute of Virology. Pathological autopsy was done in 2 cases and found noncontributory.
Conclusion
We report clinical and public health management experience from one of the three hospitals managing the patients affected with NiV. Managing outbreaks of high infectivity requires persistent organized and committed healthcare interventions
Disclosures
All authors: No reported disclosures.