Geneva (TDI): The World Health Organization (WHO) has said there is a low risk of the deadly Nipah virus spreading from India, following the confirmation of two infections in the country. The agency also noted that no travel or trade restrictions are necessary at this stage.
Several Asian countries, including Pakistan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, have stepped up airport screenings in recent days as a precautionary measure.
In a statement to Reuters, the WHO said India has the capacity to manage and contain such outbreaks. “There is no evidence yet of increased human-to-human transmission,” the organization added, though it did caution that further exposure to the virus cannot be ruled out.
Nipah virus, which is carried by fruit bats and animals such as pigs, can cause severe fever and inflammation of the brain. It has a high fatality rate ranging from 40% to 75%. While no cure is currently available, vaccines are under development. Transmission to humans usually occurs through contact with infected bats or contaminated fruit, and person-to-person spread is uncommon, generally requiring prolonged close contact.
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The two health workers infected in West Bengal in late December are receiving hospital care, authorities said. India experiences sporadic Nipah infections regularly, particularly in the southern state of Kerala, which is considered among the highest-risk areas for the virus.
This recent outbreak marks the seventh documented case in India and the third in West Bengal. Previous outbreaks in the state occurred in 2001 and 2007, mostly in districts bordering Bangladesh, which reports Nipah cases nearly every year.
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The WHO has classified Nipah as a priority pathogen due to its high mortality, lack of licensed vaccines or treatments, and potential to mutate into a more transmissible form.
