Airports throughout Asia have been placed on excessive alert after India confirmed two circumstances of the lethal Nipah virus within the state of West Bengal over the previous month.
Thailand, Nepal and Vietnam are among the many nations screening airport arrivals over fears of an wider outbreak of the virus, which may unfold from animals to people and has a excessive fatality price.
The Indian well being ministry has confirmed two circumstances within the state of West Bengal since December however mentioned there had been a “well timed containment” of the virus.
The federal government didn’t give particulars on the contaminated sufferers however mentioned nearly 200 shut contacts had been examined and no additional outbreaks had been detected.
What’s the Nipah virus and why is it so lethal?
Nipah virus is primarily transmitted to people from animals equivalent to pigs and fruit bats, both by direct contact or by way of their secretions.
It may possibly incubate within the physique for a interval of 4 to 14 days. The preliminary signs of the virus are sometimes excessive fever, nausea, vomiting and respiratory issues, which may then turn into pneumonia. In extreme circumstances it causes a harmful swelling of the mind that may result in neurological signs equivalent to drowsiness and seizures.
Whereas human to human transmission is low, it’s seen by the World Well being Group as a excessive threat for epidemics as a result of there is no such thing as a vaccine. It has a excessive fatality price of 40% to 75%, far deadlier than Covid-19.
When had been earlier outbreaks?
The illness was first recognized in 1998 amongst pig farmers in Malaysia, when it killed greater than 100 individuals. It was named after the village the place it was found.
Since then, outbreaks have been detected nearly yearly throughout Asia in nations together with India, the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia. It has routinely emerged in Bangladesh and the primary case in India was in 2001 in West Bengal, which borders Bangladesh.
It has been linked to the harvesting of uncooked date sap in Bangladesh, as fruit bats usually reside in date palms.
In 2018, a minimum of 17 individuals died from Nipah virus within the Indian state of Kerala, and two extra died in 2023.
How are the authorities dealing with the most recent outbreak?
The Indian well being authorities mentioned: “Enhanced surveillance, laboratory testing, and subject investigations had been undertaken … which ensured well timed containment of the circumstances.”
To this point, not more than two circumstances have been detected since December. “The state of affairs is beneath fixed monitoring and all crucial public well being measures are in place,” the Indian well being ministry mentioned.
Nevertheless, different nations have stepped up precautionary screening measures at airports and borders. Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia have launched further screening, together with temperature checks and well being declarations of passengers arriving from India. Myanmar suggested towards nonessential journey to West Bengal and China has strengthened illness prevention measures in its border areas.
India mentioned experiences of a surge in circumstances had been “speculative and incorrect”.
