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Nipah Virus: China and other Southeast countries are on high alert following the outbreak of the Nipah virus in India’s West Bengal. These countries have already tightened health screening operations at airports ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. West Bengal has reported two confirmed cases of the contagious virus since December last year, the health ministry said on Wednesday. However, the ministry did not make public the details about the infected people, but informed that 196 contacts are linked to them.
“All traced contacts have been found asymptomatic and have tested negative” for the virus. The situation is under constant monitoring, and all necessary public health measures are in place,” the ministry said.
According to the World Health Organisation, the risk of virus spread remains “low”, assuring that there is no need to impose strict restriction such as travel or trade ban. Notably, the fresh cases were reported from North 24 Parganas district, the place has witnessed the virus outbreaks in the past.
Both the cases developed initial symptoms in the last week of December last year which escalated to neurological complications. The patients were placed in isolation in the first week of January.
“Based on current evidence, WHO does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions,” it said.
WHO stated that there is no approved vaccine available for the virus. However, the University of Oxford has been conducting clinical trials in Bangladesh.
As there is no vaccine for Nipah Virus, doctors have been treating patients with antivirals medicines.
According to CDC, Remdesivir could also help prevent Nipah.
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