Risk factors for Nipah virus encephalitis in Bangladesh.
Nipah virus (NiV) is a paramyxovirus that causes severe encephalitis in humans. During January 2004, twelve patients with NiV encephalitis (NiVE) were identified in west-central Bangladesh. A case-control study was conducted to identify factors associated with NiV infection. NiVE patients from the outbreak were enrolled in a matched case-control study. Exact odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by using a matched analysis. Climbing trees (83% of cases vs. 51% of controls, OR 8.2, 95% CI 1.25-infinity) and contact with another NiVE patient (67% of cases vs. 9% of controls, OR 21.4, 95% CI 2.78-966.1) were associated with infection. We did not identify an increased risk for NiV infection among persons who had contact with a potential intermediate host. Although we cannot rule out person-to-person transmission, case-patients were likely infected from contact with fruit bats or their secretions.
Montgomery
Joel M
JM
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. jmontgomery@cdc.gov
Hossain
Mohamed J
MJ
Gurley
E
E
Carroll
Gurley D S
GD
Croisier
A
A
Bertherat
E
E
Asgari
N
N
Formenty
P
P
Keeler
N
N
Comer
J
J
Bell
M R
MR
Akram
K
K
Molla
A R
AR
Zaman
K
K
Islam
Mohamed R
MR
Wagoner
K
K
Mills
J N
JN
Rollin
P E
PE
Ksiazek
T G
TG
Breiman
R F
RF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000821:virology; D004199:Disease Vectors; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D045464:Henipavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D045405:Nipah Virus; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors