Dhaka: The fear of the virus is also widespread in Bangladesh, which is struggling with political instability. Scientists have identified a new virus which is proving to be as deadly as Nipah virus. Initially it was considered to be a part of Nipah infection. New research has revealed that it is actually ‘teropine orthoreovirus’ (PRV). This pathogen has spread from bats to humans and has now taken a more dangerous form than before. People who drink raw juice of dates are falling prey to it. This has increased the concern of medical science.

Is this new virus more dangerous than Nipah?

Between December 2022 and March 2023, five patients were admitted to hospitals in Bangladesh. Serious symptoms like fever, vomiting, severe headache and fatigue were seen in all of them. Signs like excessive dripping of saliva from the mouth of the patients and malfunction in the nervous system were also found. All these patients had drunk raw date juice. This is the same beverage which bats also like very much. However, when these patients were tested for Nipah, the report came negative. After this, scientists started in-depth investigation and detected this new virus.

Why did the condition and death of the patients surprise?

Even after discharge from the hospital, the problems of the patients did not reduce. Three patients complained of constant fatigue, difficulty in breathing and difficulty in walking. One of these patients died in the year 2024. His mental condition was continuously deteriorating and doctors could not understand the reason for it. Researchers say that this virus was also found in Malaysia and Vietnam. Its symptoms were quite mild there but in Bangladesh it has become very aggressive. It is directly attacking the lungs and brain.

Bangladesh: A field lab assistant catches a bat in his net while collecting samples for Nipah virus research in Shuvarampur area of ​​Faridpur. (File photo: Reuters)

Increased danger due to virus mutation?

• Scientists suspect that this virus has changed its genetic structure. Due to this change, both its ability to spread and lethality have increased. A similar virus has also been found in bats caught around the Padma river.
• Scientists believe that this virus is no longer just a mild infection but has become life-threatening. Dr Nishchay Mishra said that now merely avoiding Nipah is not enough. The list of dangers of drinking raw date juice has now become longer.

How to avoid this deadly infection?

This news is no less than a big alert for the people living around the Padma river basin. Scientists have advised not to take any respiratory disease lightly. Now it has become necessary to test for ‘PRV’ virus along with Nipah during medical examination. Drinking date juice without boiling can prove fatal. The only way to protect yourself is to stay away from any edible item that has come in contact with bats. Efforts to stop the spread of this virus have been intensified through surveillance programs.