NEW DELHI: India is sourcing monoclonal antibodies (m102.4), a novel drug therapy that is under evaluation for treatment of Nipah virus infection and has been used on compassionate basis in some countries, from Australia to treat persons affected by the disease in Kerala. The drug, m102.4, was initially developed to treat Henipavirus, another bat-borne disease.

Early-stage trials by the University of Queensland in Australia have shown that m102.4 can help in the management of NiV which is also bat-borne and highly fatal.

According to Dr. Rajiv Bahl, the Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), nearly one in every two persons affected by the disease succumbs to it.

"Covid-19 had only 2-3% mortality rate. The mortality rate of NiV is 40-70% which is very high," Dr Bahl said, adding that there is no known cure for this disease.

While the Nipah virus starts with mild symptoms like headache, muscle pain, fatigue, nausea, it may progress to mental confusion, seizures and encephalitis when the virus starts affecting brain function.

"Nipah virus was first identified in 1998 during an outbreak in Malaysia. Nipah virus infection can lead to severe respiratory illness and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)," says Dr G Sneha, Consultant - General Medicine, CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.