Contents:

1. Guru Purnima
2. Nipah Virus

Guru Purnima

Focus: Facts for Prelims

Why in News?

The Prime Minister of India has extended greetings to people on the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima.  

About Guru Purnima:

• Guru Purnima is celebrated every year on the full moon day of the month of Ashadha in the Indian lunar calendar.
• It is also known as Ashadha Purnima and is observed as a day of reverence to gurus (teachers) by both Buddhists and Hindus.
• The day is significant as it commemorates the first teaching of Gautam Buddha after attaining Enlightenment to his first five ascetic disciples (pancavargiya) at Deer Park, Risipatana Mrigadaya in present-day Sarnath, near Varanasi.
• The teachings imparted on this day hold great importance in the Buddhist tradition.
• In addition to India, Ashadha Purnima is also celebrated as Esala Poya in Sri Lanka and Asanha Bucha in Thailand.
• Ashadha Purnima also marks the beginning of the rainy season retreat for Buddhist monks and nuns, known as Vassa or the Buddhist Lent.
• During this three-month retreat, which lasts from July to October, monks and nuns stay in one place, typically their temples, to engage in intensive meditation and study.

Nipah Virus

Focus: GS II: Health

Why in News?

A 14-year-old boy from Mallapuram district, Kerala succumbed to the Nipah Virus Disease.

Nipah Virus

Nipah virus is classified as a zoonotic disease, indicating that it is transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals or via the consumption of contaminated food.

Origin and Early Outbreak

• The virus was first identified during an outbreak in Malaysia and Singapore, with its primary impact observed in pigs and individuals closely associated with them.
• The name “Nipah” is derived from the Malaysian village of Sungai Nipah, where this outbreak initially occurred. Since 1999, no new outbreaks have been reported in Malaysia.

Family and Natural Hosts

• Nipah virus belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family and shares a close relationship with the Hendra virus.
• The Paramyxoviridae family comprises a group of single-stranded RNA viruses responsible for causing infections in vertebrates.
• Fruit bats are the natural hosts for the Nipah virus, interestingly, these bats do not exhibit apparent signs of the disease themselves.

Transmission to Humans

• The primary mode of transmission to humans occurs through contact with infected animals, especially fruit bats, commonly known as flying foxes.
• Fruit bats are recognized as the principal carriers of the virus and can transmit it to other animals like pigs, dogs, cats, goats, horses, and sheep.
• The transmission from animals to humans is primarily facilitated through the consumption of contaminated food.
• Importantly, human-to-human transmission is also possible, primarily through close contact with the bodily fluids of individuals who are already infected.

Signs, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Nipah Virus Infection

Signs and Symptoms:

• Human infections caused by the Nipah virus can manifest across a wide spectrum, ranging from asymptomatic cases to more severe conditions, including acute respiratory infections and fatal encephalitis.
• Initial symptoms typically include fever, headaches, myalgia (muscle pain), vomiting, and a sore throat.
• The incubation period, which is the time from infection to the onset of symptoms, is estimated to span 4 to 14 days.

Diagnosis:

• Early signs and symptoms of Nipah virus infection are often nonspecific, and healthcare professionals may not initially suspect this disease.
• The diagnosis of Nipah virus infection can be established by considering clinical history during both the acute and convalescent phases of the illness.
• Diagnostic tests employed include the use of real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on bodily fluids and the detection of antibodies through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Treatment:

• As of now, there are no specific drugs or vaccines designed to target Nipah virus infection, although it has been recognized as a priority disease by the WHO Research and Development Blueprint.
• Management of Nipah virus infection primarily relies on intensive supportive care, particularly for individuals experiencing severe respiratory and neurologic complications.