The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has introduced a portable testing kit capable of detecting the Nipah virus with complete accuracy, delivering results within just 1–2 hours. This breakthrough tool, known as the Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) assay, can be used in field settings without the need for sophisticated equipment.
Dr. Naveen Kumar, Director of ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, explained that the test works by amplifying the viral gene, making it 100% sensitive and specific. Designed for rapid response in outbreak situations, the kit is both affordable and efficient, priced at just ₹250 per test.
Nipah virus is a highly lethal zoonotic disease primarily transmitted by fruit bats. It has a mortality rate of approximately 50%, classifying it as one of the deadliest known viral infections. The virus can also spread through contaminated food or directly from person to person, causing a wide range of symptoms including fever, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, sore throat, dizziness, altered consciousness, atypical pneumonia, and in severe cases, fatal brain inflammation (encephalitis).
In addition to the testing kit, ICMR is actively collaborating with Zydus Health Sciences (Ahmedabad) and the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (Faridabad) to develop monoclonal antibodies for treatment. Efforts are also underway to create an indigenous vaccine to combat the virus.
Currently, the National Institute of Virology in Pune remains the only laboratory in India authorized to culture the Nipah virus. Past outbreaks of the Nipah Virus Disease (NiVD) have been reported in Kerala, with the most recent incident occurring in 2023 in Kozhikode district.
