Health and Me

Ishita Srivastava

Nipah Virus Will Not Spread Outside Of India, WHO Assures

The World Health Organization has declared it is unlikely India's deadly Nipah Virus outbreak will cross borders and reach other nations, noting that countries do not need to set any travel restrictions in place.

In an email to Reuters, officials said: "The WHO considers the risk of further spread of infection from these two cases is low". adding that India has the capacity to contain such outbreaks.

"There is no evidence yet of increased human to human transmission," it said, adding that it has coordinated with Indian health authorities.

Earlier this month, two hospital nurses at AIIMS, Kolkata, had tested positive for the infection and were quarantined, prompting widespread testing. As of January 30, five cases, including a doctor and a staff member, were confirmed and nearly 100 people have been quarantined.

While health officials state it is nearly impossible for the virus to transmit across countries and unlikely to cause an international outbreak, countries including Australia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore continue to remain on high alert and have begun airport screenings. 

<h2>Nipah Virus: What Is It And What Are Its Symptoms?</h2>

According to WHO, Nipah virus is a zoonotic illness which means it is mostly transmitted from animals to humans through bats. However, it can also spread through fruits that have been contaminated by the saliva, urine or droppings of infected bats. Human-to-human transmission can also occur through close contact with an infected person or their bodily fluids. 

The illness has a 75 percent fatality rate and there are no vaccines to protect the public. 

The virus was first identified in 1998 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia and soon made its way to India and Bangladesh in 2001 with cases often involving family members or caregivers tending to infected patient.

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/nipah-virus-outbreak-in-india-how-to-stay-safe-article-153529409" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Nipah Virus Outbreak In India: How To Stay Safe?</a>

Although Nipah virus has caused only a few known outbreaks in Asia, it infects a wide range of animals and causes severe disease and death in people. Some of its common symptoms include:

<ul><li>Fever</li><li>Headache</li><li>Breathing difficulties</li><li>Cough and sore throat</li><li>Diarrhea</li><li>Vomiting</li><li>Muscle pain and severe weakness</li></ul>

In 2018, another outbreak occurred in Kerala, India, where 23 confirmed and suspected cases were reported. The virus spread across three hospitals, with both primary and secondary infections traced back to one initial patient.

Samples collected from the patient’s home and workplaces, including pets and partially eaten fruits dropped by bats, all tested negative for the virus, and the exact source of the infection could not be identified.

Experts are now cautioning people against the zoonotic nature of the viral infection. Rajeev Jayavedan, the former president of the Indian Medical Association, Cochin, told The Independent, that infection among humans are rare and caused by the accidental spillover due to the human-bat interface, which means consumption of fruits that may have been infected by bats.

“This is more likely in rural and forest-adjacent areas where agricultural practices increase contact between humans and fruit bats searching for food,” he said.

Health and Me previously reported on how doctors are now advising people to be cautious while eating food. Speaking to TOI, Dr Aishwarya R, Consultant, Infectious Diseases at Aster RV Hospital advised people against eating certain food, including fruits fallen from trees, unpasteurized date palm sap and any other fruits without washing. 

The doctor explained that this infection can spread with an infected animal which could bite fruits and spread the virus through their saliva.

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The World Health Organization has declared it is unlikely India's deadly Nipah Virus outbreak will cross borders and reach other nations, noting that countries do not need to set any travel restrictions in place. In an email to Reuters, officials said: "The WHO considers the risk of further spread of infection from these two cases is low". adding that India has the capacity to contain such outbreaks."There is no evidence yet of increased human to human transmission," it said, adding that it has coordinated with Indian health authorities. Earlier this month, two hospital nurses at AIIMS, Kolkata, had tested positive for the infection and were quarantined, prompting widespread testing. As of January 30, five cases, including a doctor and a staff member, were confirmed and nearly 100 people have been quarantined.While health officials state it is nearly impossible for the virus to transmit across countries and unlikely to cause an international outbreak, countries including Australia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore continue to remain on high alert and have begun airport screenings. Nipah Virus: What Is It And What Are Its Symptoms?According to WHO, Nipah virus is a zoonotic illness which means it is mostly transmitted from animals to humans through bats. However, it can also spread through fruits that have been contaminated by the saliva, urine or droppings of infected bats. Human-to-human transmission can also occur through close contact with an infected person or their bodily fluids. The illness has a 75 percent fatality rate and there are no vaccines to protect the public. The virus was first identified in 1998 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia and soon made its way to India and Bangladesh in 2001 with cases often involving family members or caregivers tending to infected patient.READ MORE: Nipah Virus Outbreak In India: How To Stay Safe?Although Nipah virus has caused only a few known outbreaks in Asia, it infects a wide range of animals and causes severe disease and death in people. Some of its common symptoms include:FeverHeadacheBreathing difficultiesCough and sore throatDiarrheaVomitingMuscle pain and severe weaknessIn 2018, another outbreak occurred in Kerala, India, where 23 confirmed and suspected cases were reported. The virus spread across three hospitals, with both primary and secondary infections traced back to one initial patient.Samples collected from the patient’s home and workplaces, including pets and partially eaten fruits dropped by bats, all tested negative for the virus, and the exact source of the infection could not be identified.What Do Doctors Say?Experts are now cautioning people against the zoonotic nature of the viral infection. Rajeev Jayavedan, the former president of the Indian Medical Association, Cochin, told The Independent, that infection among humans are rare and caused by the accidental spillover due to the human-bat interface, which means consumption of fruits that may have been infected by bats.“This is more likely in rural and forest-adjacent areas where agricultural practices increase contact between humans and fruit bats searching for food,” he said.Health and Me previously reported on how doctors are now advising people to be cautious while eating food. Speaking to TOI, Dr Aishwarya R, Consultant, Infectious Diseases at Aster RV Hospital advised people against eating certain food, including fruits fallen from trees, unpasteurized date palm sap and any other fruits without washing. The doctor explained that this infection can spread with an infected animal which could bite fruits and spread the virus through their saliva.