It was first identified in 1999 when pig farmers in the vicinity of the river Nipah, which gave it its name, fell ill.
The lethality of the Nipah virus, which had an outbreak in India, is between 40 and 75%, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported. To protect against infection, it is recommended to thoroughly wash fruits and avoid contact with animals without masks and gloves. Experts believe that it is impossible to catch this virus in Europe.
Nipah is a virus that causes severe illness, which can manifest as acute respiratory problems as well as inflammation of the brain. The main carriers in nature are flying foxes and bats. This virus is transmitted from animals to humans but can also spread through direct contact between people and through contaminated products. It was first identified in 1999 when pig farmers in the vicinity of the river Nipah in Malaysia, which gave it its name, fell ill. Since then, cases of infection with the virus have been periodically recorded in South Asian countries. There is no vaccine or medication for Nipah.
In mid-January, the Press Trust of India reported the detection of a new outbreak in the Indian state of West Bengal. Five people, including three medical workers at the Barasat hospital, contracted Nipah. However, according to official data, there are only two reported cases. To contain the spread of the virus, authorities tested 180 people who had contact with the sick, after which 20 of them were placed in quarantine. According to Al Jazeera, passenger checks were introduced at airports in Asian countries for incoming travelers.
Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Pyotr Chumakov pointed out that there is still no vaccine for Nipah solely for economic reasons — too few people are infected. However, he added that if the threat becomes widespread, a vaccine for this virus could be developed quickly.
PhD in Medicine Galina Kompanets stated that this virus is not capable of causing a new pandemic, as it spreads less actively than the coronavirus.
"Compared to COVID, this virus is not highly contagious. That is, it does not transmit between people as quickly or as effectively as the coronavirus. In India, the population density is very high, and yet every year there are five, well, 10 cases registered. If it had the potential to cause a pandemic, outbreaks would be much larger," the doctor said.
Leave a comment