Nipah Virus and the Potential for Bioterrorism

Nipah Virus and the Potential for BioterrorismNipah Virus and the Potential for Bioterrorism groundingBioterrorism is considered to be one of the most talked about issues with regard to national security since the inception of the new millennium. On September 11, 2001 (9/11) terrorism struck the join States with the crashing and attempted crashing of airplanes into portentous economic and political buildings. This act of terror was a substantive beginning to fears of what was next from terrorist groups. Even though this was non the for the first time, and by all odds not the last, terrorist threat or attempt it was definitely the most profound and unquestionably caused fear, panic and social disruption much less economic issues glob onlyy.Within old age of the 9/11 attacks the awareness of American vulnerability became more evident with the media publicity of the Anthrax scares. This brought about international c erstrns with bioterrorism as envelopes that were filled with spl enic fever spores were sent to political and media fountains throughout the United States and twenty-two people were infected and five deaths occurred (Ryan Glarum, 2008).Nipah is just one of many computer computer viruses that are open to terrorist groups for development as a bioweapon. In 1999 this virus was first found and storied to be very easily disseminated to humans through inhalation and ingestion. Even though in that respect are many voltage pathogens available, the Nipah virus has turn out itself to be one of the most dangerous and advantageous .As the Nipah virus progressed there was fear tell by workers, families and healthcare providers in southern Asia. With a mortality rate of 40% to 100% (Lam, 2002 World Health Organization WHO, 2009) in infected areas, and an economic electrical shock that cost several millions to Malaysias economy, this virus has potential for significant bioterrorism.Natural HistoryThe Nipah Virus (NiV), family paramyxoviridae, was first recognized in Malaysia, South Asia in deep 1998 into Spring 1999. This illness was recognized when an bam of sickness and death occurred among hog farmers, it infected 265 people, with 105 deaths, a mortality rate of approximately 40% (Lam, 2002).This virus was new to the scientific community and first thought to be Japanese Encephalitis (JE) which had occurred in approximately the same location years earlier. JE was also famous to infect people that were around domesticated pigs, just like the currently identified Nipah Virus (Center for Disease Control CDC, 2001). The Nipah virus was found to also affirm similar symptoms as those of the Hendra Virus which caused respiratory disease and encephalitis in Australia in 1994 (Fraser, 2009). The Nipah virus is considered by the CDC as a newly emerging pathogen that could be engineered for host dissemination (Ryan Glarum, 2008 Center for Disease Control and Prevention CDC, n.d.).Since the onset of the Nipah virus in 1999, jibe to the World Health Organization (WHO), there go been twelve significant bams since the initial, with 202 persons infected and a loss of life of 146 individuals, mortality of over 72%. Two of these outbreaks, one in India in 2007 and one in Bangladesh in 2008 had mortality rates of 100%, showing the devastating effects of this virus (WHO, 2009).The initial investigation of the Nipah virus found that abattoir workers who dealt with pigs daily and those that were open(a) through farming and transporting pigs were getting ill. As the investigation act it found that the pigs were infecting the workers (zoonotic disease). After discovery, subsequently over 1.1 million pigs were disposed of to quell the transmission of the virus. This decease of pigs was significantly devastating to the economy of Malaysia noting an estimated loss of $217 million dollars (Ryan Glarum, 2008, p. 104).Virus TransferenceThe Nipah virus host was found to be pteropid bats (flying foxes), located in Australia and the southern areas of Asia. During expansion of farms toward the rainforests and the destruction of the rainforest for manufacturing and industry, many animals including bats had to relocate to survive. Many pig farmers in Malaysia also had large growth orchards situated next to the pig enclosures, as growth of pig farming continued and the loss of habitat for bats persisted to change bats started to forage the nearby orchards for food. As this progression continued there was an increased chance of disease contamination to domestic animals from wildlife, and as such a significant increase in contact between pigs and bats. Therefore, great opportunity for transmission of the Nipah virus (Dr. Jonathan Epstein Returns, 2005).As the Nipah virus was investigated it was believed to have been communicable to pigs from bats through the saliva, water system and feces of the bats which feed and nest in local orchards (Dr. Jonathan Epstein Returns, 2005), near pig pens. This p otential transmission probably occurred when bat secretions fell into the pig pens and were ingested by these domesticated animals.The initial human virus outbreak in Malaysia and Singapore was believed to have been from direct contact with sick pigs or their meat products, and possibly could have come from the consumption of contaminated fruit or juices from the orchards. As the virus progressed and research was done there was an established link noting person-to-person contamination through close contact (World Health Organization WHO, 2009)Physiology of flickThe Nipah virus seems to have many different clinical manifestations in individual animals and humans. There is a broad range of clinic signs that can point to virus transmitting that cause researchers and healthcare providers to not recognize patterns of initial transmission system, therefore not recognizing potential disease outbreaks. According to the WHO (2009), the incubation period (interval from infection to onset o f symptoms) varies from cardinal to 45 days. This significant range makes it incredibly hard to follow the virus between initial exposure and medical cover upment. Recognizing that the person is showing signs of a virus, and change down the specific virus, then treating it appropriately for an individual is a challenge but feasible. But with such a wide incubation period there is a possibility that viable information could be lost or not noticed.The physiological symptoms of this virus in humans is characterized by non-specific signs and symptoms to include intemperate headache, fever, vomiting, myalgia (muscular pain) disorientation, respiratory diseases, neurological deficits and encephalitis and in many cases may cause coma or death (Center for Infectious Disease Research insurance CIDRAP, 2009).In pigs there is characterization of signs and symptoms depending on the age of the animal. The basic signs noted are fever, shortness of breath, muscle twitching, trembling, rear le g weakness, severe coughing, open-mouth breathing, abnormal pose and convulsions (CIDRAP, 2009).After initial exposure and treatment follow-up research was done and in this study it was noted that there were relapses in clinic symptoms to include encephalitis up to twenty-two months later, without re-exposure. The research and that an estimated 160 patients who recovered from acute encephalitis and 89 patients who experienced asymptomatic infection received follow-up care for late-onset encephalitis (neurological manifestations occurring for the first time at ten or more weeks after initial infection) or relapsed encephalitis (neurological manifestations after recovery from acute encephalitis) (Halpin Mungall, 2007, p. 290).Host SourcesThe Nipah Virus source comes from Pteropus fruit bats (AKA Flying Foxes), which are found in Southern Asia and Australia. In 1997 fruit bats were noted to begin foraging on flowers and nectar in trees located near orchards contiguous to infected area s (Cobey, 2005). Fruit bats were found to be the indispensable source of this virus and caused the transfer of the virus to pigs and human macrocosms. As domesticated pigs were sold for breeding and transferred to other farms the virus was quickly disseminated further throughout southern Asia (Cobey, 2005).Possible Use in BiowarfareBiowarfare, and in this day and age bioterrorism, is a threat that began before the birth of Christ. According to Dr. Michael D. Phillips, M.D. one of the first recorded incidents of bioterrorismwas in Mesopotamia. The Assyrians employed rye ergot, an element of the fungus genus Claviceps purpurea, which contains mycotoxins. Rye ergot was used by Assyria to poison the wells of their enemies, with limited success (Phillips, 2005, p. 32). Use of pathogens to induce sickness, death or terror has continued until endow time.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has listed the Nipah virus as a critical biological agent, Category C. Category C agents are emerging pathogens that could be engineered for mass dissemination in the future because of* Availability* Ease of production and dissemination* Potential for high morbidity and mortality rates and major health impact (Center for Disease Control and Prevention CDC, n.d., 3 (Ryan Glarum, 2008, p. 105))With this categorization the virus is a living pathogen that can be developed as a bioweapon with the advanced knowledge, and equipment. For the virus to be weaponized it needs to be purified, stabilized and properly sized. Since this is a living virus the bioterrorist agent can be replicated once disseminated (Ryan Glarum, 2008). At this time, there is no information about how this virus could be manufactured to become a bioterrorist agent, but with the right knowledge the potential is there.Production MethodsSince the Nipah virus has proven to be disseminated through secretions from bats and pigs, and shown to cause severe infection and death it can potentially be used as a bioterrorist agent with humble changes in its basic state. If the excretions from infected bats in palm juice can cause infection and death then there is ease in distribution with a significant centre of virus.Even with these basic distribution methods there is information about the Nipah virus and its compounds being published. As knowledge continues be found about the virus and information availability of the compounds there is potential for virus manipulation for maximum threat to animals and humans to induce fear and panic. education such as this is noted in an article by checkup News Today, (2005). This article states that UCLA scientists have revealed how the Nipah virus infiltrates human cells. The article further states the virus exploits a protein that is essential to embryonic development to enter cells and attack. The virus must infect a cell by binding to a viral-specific receptor and once that is done penetrates the cell. The article actually gives the receptor name as Ephrin-B2, and is found to be the key to unlocking these dangerous cells. If this information is so easily accessible and is available it allows terrorists groups with the knowledge and expertise to manipulate the virus for dissemination and extreme virulence.The Nipah virus is still a relatively new virus and steps are slow being do in understanding this infant virus. As of this time there is very little knowledge about how effective this virus would be or what would be needed to make it infective. With bioterrorist there is always a concern with the storage and stability of the virus for development and weaponization. As developments are made and intelligence is gathered with regard to potential agents there will be a concern with any viral pathogen.TransmissibilityAnimal-to-humanAnimal (pig) to human transmissibility was the first noted issue with regard to the detection of the Nipah virus in 1999. As stated earlier the virus spread rapidly and was found to have starte d with pig farmers and abattoir workers that worked closely and handled these animals. As the virus progressed and workers died it was found that pigs in these farms had been coughing loudly (bark type of cough), and nerve damage was becoming prevalent. In a short amount of time approximately five percent of these animals died and the illness was spreading significantly (Pearl, 2006).Also transmissibility has been noted from non-specific animal contact put through the ingestion of date palm juice taken from the trees that bats nest and feed. As the fruit tree workers and farmers gather the palm juice through clay pots bats befuddle from the pots and transfer saliva to the nectar (Pearl, 2006).Person-to-personMany of the articles written on the Nipah virus states that there is no evidence that there is transmissibility of the virus from person-to-person. In contrast, according to a research investigation done during a Bangladeshi outbreak in 2004, there is definitive evidence that the Nipah virus can be transmitted from person-to-person (Gurley et al., July 2007).According to the research, subsequent investigations in India and Bangladesh have suggested that Nipah virus may have been transmitted from person-to-person. During an outbreak in 2001in India, 75% of the patients, including fourteen healthcare workers, had a history of hospital exposure to patients infected with Nipah virus (Gurley et al., July 2007), with no other exposure risks noted. The exposure, and subsequent virus, occurred with persons who lived with or cared for the patients, and persons who were in close contact for a significant amount of time.According to a research article published by the CDC, the Nipah virus can be transmitted from person-to-person. The article states, in a thickly populated area a lethal virus could rapidly spread before effective interventions are implemented. This spread would provide the seed for a red-blooded regional or global public health problem (Gurley et al., 2007, p. 1036).According to Gurley et al., 2007 there is significant evidence that person-to-person contact will cause infection. The person-to-person transmissibility factors include having (1) touched or received a cough or sneeze in the face, (2) any contact with someone who later died, was febrile, unconscious, or had respiratory difficulty, and (3) visited the home, and possibly, the village an infected person.The most significant evidence of person-to-person infections was with a religious attraction where twenty-two persons who had became infected after close contact. The religious leader was moved to his home and eight members of his household became infected. Two brothers who lived a significant distance away were infected after only a six instant visitation, son-in-law and daughter who lived only about one hour away and eleven other followers of the leader contracted the disease after contact (Gurley et al., 2007) with no noted other infection means.Surface-to-perso nTo this date there is no evidence of any transfer of the virus to persons from surface contact, in fact how long the virus remains infectious on environmental surfaces is not known. In an article written by (Gurley et al., 2007) collection of 468 environmental specimens were gathered through swabbing of potential surfaces that included walls, bed frames, mattresses, floors and utensils in hospital rooms and residences of infected individuals. Also collected were swabs from trees, fruits, excrement and other surfaces around possible bat foraging sites. With all of this gathered specimens the only information obtained was that the infected individuals shed the virus into the environment, showing potential for transmission, but no evidence was found that surfaces caused any positive infection to another person.Potential for contagion and considerations relative to BiodefenseThe Nipah virus has the potential to be a very detrimental bioweapon of choice for domestic or international ter rorists. With the virus being zoonotic (disease which can be transmitted to humans from animals, Zoonosis, 2009), which effects animals and humans, and the ease of transmission from the saliva and urine of fruit bats to these two groups the potential for aPotential for contagion and considerations relative to biodefense According to Kortepeter and Parker (Kortepeter Parker, 1999), for a biological agent to be used for a greatest plausible occurrence, an agent must have specific properties* the agent should be highly lethal and easily produced in large quantities* Given that the fuel-air bomb route is the most likely for a large-scale attack, stability in aerosol and capability to be dispersed (17,000 to 5,000 nanometers (nm) particle size) are necessary* being communicable from person-to-person, and* having no treatment or vaccine In using the above criteria the Nipah virus would make a credible biological threat for a domestic or international terrorist group. Host bats being pl entiful in Australia and southern Asia would make it easy to obtain the saliva, feces or urine of these hosts for initial development of the virus. The Nipah virus being 150 to 200 nm in diameter and 10,000 to 10,040 nm long (CIDRAP, 2009, 3), it could be used in an aerosol form for dispersement. According to Gurley et al., there is significant evidence that there is person-to-person communicability and according to the WHO, there are currently no drugs or vaccines available to treat Nipah virus infection. Intensive supportive care with treatment of symptoms is the main approach to managing the infection in people (2009, 8 ).ConclusionThe Nipah virus should be a concern for any government as a potential for a bioterrorist attack. As with the 9/11 and the anthrax attacks in 2001 there could be significant fear, panic, economic issues and social disruption if this virus was used. With a mortality rate of 40% to 100% (Lam, 2002 WHO, 2009), and an incubation period of up to 45 days (WH O, 2009), this could definitely be a pathogen of choice for terrorists. The ease of access to the virus itself from fruit bats, to pigs and to humans, not to mention the transmissibility ease through inhalation and ingestion, makes this the perfect biological weapon.The disease this virus manifests, from flu type symptoms to severe encephalitis, will cause significant fear to the public and will stress healthcare facilities if a large outbreak occurs. This virus also has no known cure as of this date, even though there are developments in that direction.The Nipah virus needs to continue to be monitored and treatment options along with vaccine development needs to be continuous until this threat is diminished.ReferencesBiological Warfare. (2009). In Wikipedia. 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