Epidemic / Will Nipah Virus Spread Beyond India? Can India Control It? WHO Clarifies
·2 months ago·3 min read
Key Points
- The World Health Organization stated there is a low risk of Nipah virus spreading beyond India and does not recommend travel or trade restrictions.
- The assessment follows two recent infections in West Bengal; several Asian countries have tightened airport screening as a precaution.
- WHO noted India’s capacity to contain outbreaks; Nipah has a high fatality rate but human-to-human transmission is uncommon.
Hyderabad, Jan 30: The World Health Organization on Friday said there is a low risk of the deadly Nipah virus spreading beyond India, adding that it does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions following two recent infections reported by the country.
The assessment comes amid heightened vigilance across Asia, with Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam tightening airport screening measures this week after India confirmed the cases.
“The WHO considers the risk of further spread of infection from these two cases to be low,” the agency said in an email to Reuters, adding that India has the capacity to contain such outbreaks. It also noted that there is no evidence so far of increased human-to-human transmission.
The WHO said it is coordinating closely with Indian health authorities but cautioned that further exposure to the virus cannot be ruled out, as Nipah circulates naturally in bat populations in parts of India and neighbouring Bangladesh.
What Is Nipah Virus?
Nipah is a zoonotic virus carried by fruit bats and animals such as pigs. It can cause fever and inflammation of the brain and has a fatality rate ranging from 40 per cent to 75 per cent. There is no approved treatment or vaccine, though several candidates are currently under development and testing.
The virus spreads to humans through direct contact with infected bats or fruit contaminated by them. Person-to-person transmission is uncommon and typically requires prolonged close contact with an infected individual. Health experts say small outbreaks are not unusual and the risk to the general population remains low.
The source of the current infections has not yet been fully identified, the WHO said. The virus is classified as a priority pathogen due to its high fatality rate, the absence of licensed vaccines or treatments, and concerns it could mutate into a more transmissible form.
The two infected individuals, both health workers, were identified in India’s eastern state of West Bengal in late December and are currently undergoing treatment, local authorities said.
Nipah Not New to India
India has reported sporadic Nipah cases in the past, particularly in the southern state of Kerala, considered one of the world’s highest-risk regions for the virus. Since its first emergence there in 2018, outbreaks have been linked to dozens of deaths.
Also Read: Actor Jayaram Questioned by SIT in Sabarimala Gold Theft Investigation
According to the WHO, the current episode marks India’s seventh documented Nipah outbreak and the third in West Bengal. Previous outbreaks in the state, recorded in 2001 and 2007, occurred in districts bordering Bangladesh, which reports Nipah cases almost every year.
The assessment comes amid heightened vigilance across Asia, with Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam tightening airport screening measures this week after India confirmed the cases.
“The WHO considers the risk of further spread of infection from these two cases to be low,” the agency said in an email to Reuters, adding that India has the capacity to contain such outbreaks. It also noted that there is no evidence so far of increased human-to-human transmission.
The WHO said it is coordinating closely with Indian health authorities but cautioned that further exposure to the virus cannot be ruled out, as Nipah circulates naturally in bat populations in parts of India and neighbouring Bangladesh.
What Is Nipah Virus?
Nipah is a zoonotic virus carried by fruit bats and animals such as pigs. It can cause fever and inflammation of the brain and has a fatality rate ranging from 40 per cent to 75 per cent. There is no approved treatment or vaccine, though several candidates are currently under development and testing.
The virus spreads to humans through direct contact with infected bats or fruit contaminated by them. Person-to-person transmission is uncommon and typically requires prolonged close contact with an infected individual. Health experts say small outbreaks are not unusual and the risk to the general population remains low.
The source of the current infections has not yet been fully identified, the WHO said. The virus is classified as a priority pathogen due to its high fatality rate, the absence of licensed vaccines or treatments, and concerns it could mutate into a more transmissible form.
The two infected individuals, both health workers, were identified in India’s eastern state of West Bengal in late December and are currently undergoing treatment, local authorities said.
Nipah Not New to India
India has reported sporadic Nipah cases in the past, particularly in the southern state of Kerala, considered one of the world’s highest-risk regions for the virus. Since its first emergence there in 2018, outbreaks have been linked to dozens of deaths.
Also Read: Actor Jayaram Questioned by SIT in Sabarimala Gold Theft Investigation
According to the WHO, the current episode marks India’s seventh documented Nipah outbreak and the third in West Bengal. Previous outbreaks in the state, recorded in 2001 and 2007, occurred in districts bordering Bangladesh, which reports Nipah cases almost every year.
📱 Get Argus News App
✨📰 60 Word News🎬 Argus Podcast📺 Live TV and Breaking News🔔 Free Notification Alerts
Download Free:
Related Topics
Explore more stories