(NewsNation) — Indian authorities said Tuesday they have contained a Nipah virus outbreak after confirming two cases in West Bengal, prompting several Asian countries to tighten health screenings for travelers from India.
The Health Ministry said both cases were detected since December and that 196 identified contacts have been quarantined and tested, all returning negative results. Officials did not release patient details but said the situation remains under constant monitoring with all necessary public health measures in place.
What is the Nipah virus?
Nipah is a zoonotic virus first identified during a 1990s outbreak in Malaysia that killed more than 100 pig farmers. The virus spreads through fruit bats, pigs and human-to-human contact.
There is no vaccine or licensed treatment for Nipah, which causes raging fevers, convulsions, vomiting and brain swelling. The only treatment is supportive care to control complications and keep patients comfortable.
The virus has an estimated fatality rate between 40% and 75%, according to the World Health Organization, making it far deadlier than coronavirus. The WHO identified Nipah in 2018 as a priority pathogen requiring urgent research and development.
How does Nipah virus transmission occur?
People can contract Nipah from direct contact with infected animals, primarily flying fox bats and pigs, as well as their contaminated tissues or secretions. Consuming food contaminated by these animals also poses risk.
Outbreaks in Bangladesh have been linked to raw date palm juice made with sap contaminated by fruit bats. In Bangladesh, routine outbreaks occur in a predictable seasonal pattern between December and April, coinciding with peak harvesting of date palm sap — a cultural delicacy. Fruit bats often live in date trees.
Once the virus spreads to humans, it can transmit person-to-person through close contact.
Regional response and surveillance to Nipah virus
Thailand’s Department of Disease Control installed thermal scanners at arrival gates for direct flights from West Bengal at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. Indonesia also increased screening at major airports with health declarations, temperature checks and visual monitoring.
Myanmar’s Health Ministry advised against nonessential travel to West Bengal and urged travelers to seek immediate medical care if symptoms develop within 14 days. The country intensified fever surveillance at airports, building on systems introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vietnam’s Health Ministry on Tuesday urged strict food safety practices and directed local authorities to increase monitoring at border crossings, health facilities and communities, according to state media.
China said it was strengthening disease prevention measures in border areas, with health authorities beginning risk assessments and enhanced training for medical staff while increasing monitoring and testing capabilities.
The safety measures were implemented after early media reports from India suggested a surge in cases, though health authorities said those figures were speculative and incorrect. No cases have been reported outside India.
Is the Nipah virus a new virus?
This month’s outbreak marks West Bengal’s first confirmed cases since 2007. The state previously reported outbreaks in 2001 and 2007.
Recent cases have largely been detected in southern Kerala state. A major outbreak in 2018 killed at least 17 people there.
Nipah outbreaks have occurred almost annually in Asia, particularly in Bangladesh and India. Cases have also been reported in Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore.
Nipah virus symptoms and prevention
The sickness begins within days of infection, with symptoms including fever, headache, cough, muscle pain and difficulty breathing. As infection progresses, patients may experience neurological symptoms such as brain swelling, which can be fatal.
Those who survive encephalitis, or brain inflammation, can recover but sometimes face lifelong consequences, including seizure disorders.
Because no drugs exist to prevent or treat the disease, the WHO says the best prevention is awareness of risk factors. That includes steps to decrease bat access to date palm sap collection sites and boiling any collected juice. The WHO advises farmers to consider proximity to bats when establishing new pig farms in vulnerable regions.
Promising vaccines are in various trials, and recent advancements in monoclonal antibody treatments show potential, Sauer said.
When scientists raced to find the origins of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the first Nipah outbreak was viewed as a case study in zoonotic disease spillover from animals to humans.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
