WHO: Risk of Nipah virus outbreak low despite India infections
In its latest Global Health Security Report, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the risk of a Nipah virus outbreak at both the regional and global levels as "low," despite confirmed cases in India and Bangladesh. This announcement aims to alleviate growing concerns about the potential for the virus to become a widespread epidemic, particularly given its biological characteristics and the fact that it is classified as a deadly disease for which there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment.
Details of the current epidemiological situation
The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, provided details of the current situation, noting that health authorities in India had officially reported two cases of the virus to the organization, while Bangladesh had recorded one case. As part of rigorous epidemiological surveillance, approximately 230 people who had been in direct contact with the infected individuals were monitored, and tests and clinical follow-up confirmed that none of them had shown any symptoms so far, reinforcing the assumption that the current outbreaks are under control.
What is the Nipah virus? And why is it a cause for concern?
Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus, meaning it is primarily transmitted from animals to humans. Fruit bats of the family Nipahidae are the natural host of this virus. Transmission can also occur through contaminated food (such as fruit or raw palm sap contaminated with bat droppings) or directly from person to person. The virus is dangerous due to its high mortality rate, which the World Health Organization estimates to be between 40% and 75%, depending on local clinical and epidemiological capacity.
Historical background and recurrence
The emergence of the Nipah virus in South Asia is not entirely new; both India and Bangladesh have experienced previous seasonal outbreaks. Historically, the virus was first identified in 1999 during an outbreak in Malaysia and Singapore among pig farmers. Since then, cases have been reported periodically in Bangladesh and eastern India. This seasonal recurrence keeps health authorities in these countries on high alert, particularly during the fruit harvest and palm sap collection seasons.
International and local efforts to confront
The World Health Organization continues to work closely with health authorities in India and Bangladesh to strengthen surveillance and monitoring systems. Current measures include isolating suspected cases, raising awareness in communities about avoiding contact with potentially infected animals, thoroughly washing and peeling fruit before consumption, and avoiding the consumption of raw palm sap. While there is no vaccine, intensive supportive care for patients with severe respiratory and neurological complications remains the cornerstone of case management to minimize mortality.
