Screening
In resource-poor settings where Nipah virus (NiV) is endemic, there may only be a limited capacity to isolate patients and carry out strict infection control procedures. Hence, identification of those patients with encephalitis who are at higher risk of NiV is helpful in order to prioritise resources and reduce risk of nosocomial transmission. A simple screening tool on admission, asking specifically about history of consumption of raw or fermented date palm sap and/or contact with another person with fever and altered mental status in the month before illness onset, has been found to have a sensitivity of 82%, a specificity of 86%, a positive predictive value of 24%, and a negative predictive value of 99% for NiV infection.[28]
Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer