Nipah virus, a highly lethal zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans, has once again drawn regional attention following the confirmation of two cases in India’s West Bengal.
Health authorities in India have emphasized that the infections were detected early and swiftly contained through enhanced surveillance, contact tracing, and field investigations. Nearly 200 contacts linked to the cases have been identified and tested, all of whom were found negative.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah virus has no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment, and its fatality rate ranges between 40% and 75%, making it one of the most dangerous emerging infectious diseases globally. The virus is classified by the WHO as a priority pathogen due to its high mortality rate, lack of treatment options, and potential to mutate into a more easily transmissible form.
How the Virus Spreads
Nipah virus is primarily carried by fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, and can spread to humans through:
Consumption of fruits, berries, or palm sap contaminated by bats
Close contact with infected animals such as pigs
Human-to-human transmission through saliva and other bodily fluids, typically requiring prolonged or close contact
The WHO has noted that while person-to-person transmission is possible, it is not easy and usually occurs in healthcare or caregiving settings.
Symptoms and Health Impact
The incubation period for Nipah virus ranges from 5 to 14 days. Early symptoms often appear within 3 to 4 days of illness and may include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Disorientation
- Mental confusion
As the disease progresses, patients may develop respiratory illness and severe inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). Long-term complications can include convulsions and personality changes. In severe cases, the infection can be fatal.
Preventive Measures in Healthcare Settings:
To control the spread of the virus, especially in hospitals, the WHO recommends:
- Standard infection prevention measures
- Contact and droplet precautions
- Airborne precautions in certain high-risk situations
- Strict adherence to these measures is considered crucial to preventing further transmission.
Regional Response and Vigilance
Following the emergence of cases in India, several countries in the region have heightened surveillance. Pakistan has tightened border health monitoring and imposed emergency measures at airports. Border Health Services have contacted federal health institutions, including PIMS Hospital and District Health Officers, instructing them to make necessary arrangements. Screening of passengers arriving from India has also begun in multiple countries.
Health authorities in Pakistan have stated that the country has sufficient diagnostic capacity to test suspected cases and that there is currently no cause for alarm. However, officials stress the importance of sustained vigilance, surveillance, and screening procedures, as well as avoiding travel to high-risk areas.
Other Asian locations, including Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, have also strengthened airport screening checks in response to the confirmed cases.
WHO Assessment
The WHO has assessed the risk of further spread from the two confirmed cases in India as low. In a statement to Reuters, the agency said there is no evidence so far of increased human-to-human transmission and confirmed that it is closely coordinating with Indian health authorities.
However, the WHO has not ruled out the possibility of further exposure, noting that the virus continues to circulate among bat populations in parts of India and neighboring Bangladesh. Small outbreaks are not uncommon, but virologists maintain that the overall risk to the general population remains low.
As research continues and vaccines remain under development, health experts emphasize that early detection, surveillance, and public awareness remain the most effective tools in preventing the spread of the Nipah virus.
