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. 2004 Dec;10(12):2082-7.
doi: 10.3201/eid1012.040701.

Nipah virus encephalitis reemergence, Bangladesh

Vincent P Hsu  1 , Mohammed Jahangir Hossain, Umesh D Parashar, Mohammed Monsur Ali, Thomas G Ksiazek, Ivan Kuzmin, Michael Niezgoda, Charles Rupprecht, Joseph Bresee, Robert F Breiman
Affiliations

Nipah virus encephalitis reemergence, Bangladesh

Vincent P Hsu et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2004 Dec.

Abstract

We retrospectively investigated two outbreaks of encephalitis in Meherpur and Naogaon, Bangladesh, which occurred in 2001 and 2003. We collected serum samples from persons who were ill, their household contacts, randomly selected residents, hospital workers, and various animals. Cases were classified as laboratory confirmed or probable. We identified 13 cases (4 confirmed, 9 probable) in Meherpur; 7 were in persons in two households. Patients were more likely than nonpatients to have close contact with other patients or have contact with a sick cow. In Naogaon, we identified 12 cases (4 confirmed, 8 probable); 7 were in persons clustered in 2 households. Two Pteropus bats had antibodies for Nipah virus. Samples from hospital workers were negative for Nipah virus antibodies. These outbreaks, the first since 1999, suggest that transmission may occur through close contact with other patients or from exposure to a common source. Surveillance and enhancement of diagnostic capacity to detect Nipah virus infection are recommended.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Illness onset of probable and confirmed cases of encephalitis. A) Meherpur District, 2001. B) Naogaon District, 2003.
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