Nipah Virus: Travel Alert Issued for Asia

Nipah virus, a zoonotic illness primarily transmitted by fruit bats, can infect humans through direct contact or consuming contaminated food. This virus, first identified in Malaysia in 1999, commonly surfaces in rural areas of South and Southeast Asia.

India has faced numerous Nipah virus outbreaks, with yearly occurrences reported in Kerala since 2019, in addition to the recent event in West Bengal. Bangladesh has also experienced near-annual outbreaks since 2001. Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore are among other nations that have recorded Nipah cases.

Symptoms of Nipah virus infection can include fever, headache, confusion, and breathing difficulties. Severe cases may develop encephalitis and meningitis, which are inflammations of the brain. Currently, there is no vaccine or specific medical treatment available for Nipah virus disease.

While the risk to tourists following precautions like good hand hygiene is considered very low, public health advice emphasizes minimizing contact with the virus. This includes thoroughly washing fruits, avoiding contact with infected animals, and ensuring raw or partially fermented date palm sap is boiled before consumption.