Senate Hearing—Gain of Function, August 4,2022: Stephen Quay MD PhD alleges that illegal gain of function research on the Nipah Virus is being conducted by China.
The Nipah virus, usually found in bats and pigs, has a 45% to 75% mortality rate in humans. It is transmissible to humans usually through direct contact with contaminated animal tissue food.
Dr Quay after being questioned by Senator Hawley made the comparison of a 75% mortality rate of the Nipah Virus to the plague at 10% or Covid at 1%. The virus has an incubation period from 4 days up to 45 days.Â
A leak of this kind would be catastrophic if the gain of function reports, of making this contact virus into an airborne virus, are true.
Concerns were also expressed that China’s substandard laboratory conditions. The same conditions that allegedly leaked the Covid 19 virus could similarly leak the Nipah Virus.
Infected persons develop symptoms from dizziness, drowsiness to acute and often fatal encephalitis. Other symptoms can include severe respiratory distress. Encephalitis and seizures progress to coma within 24 to 48 hours from the Nipah Virus.
There is no prescribed treatment or vaccine for this virus.
Further information: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/nipah-virus
