Deadly Nipah virus alarms Nepal: Experts

Kathmandu, Jan. 25: Experts and health officials have warned that the deadly Nipah virus (NiV) could spread to Nepal at any time, as several cases have been reported in India and Bangladesh.

According to health personnel, Nipah is a highly fatal virus with no vaccine or specific cure and is classified as a high-risk pathogen by the World Health Organization (WHO).

In recent times, numerous Nipah virus cases have been recorded in India and Bangladesh. Some of those infected are medical doctors and nurses who are currently receiving treatment in intensive care units (ICUs). The emergence of cases in neighboring countries has raised serious concerns in Nepal, health officials said.

Dr. Sher Bahadur Pun, Coordinator of the Clinical Research Unit at Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, stated that Nepal is at high risk of a Nipah outbreak, although no cases have been confirmed so far.

Speaking to The Rising Nepal, Dr. Pun explained that there are several ways through which the virus could be transmitted from India or Bangladesh to Nepal. “Nipah virus is primarily transmitted to humans who come into close contact with infected pigs. For this reason, pig farmers are particularly at risk. The outbreak in Malaysia is a clear example of this, and pig farming is also widespread in Nepal,” he said.

According to Dr. Pun, there is also no solid evidence that recent outbreaks in India and Bangladesh originated from pigs. Instead, the virus appears to have been transmitted through bat saliva or other bodily fluids. 

Several studies have shown that humans can become infected by consuming fruits contaminated by bats.

Nepal at high risk Fruit bats, which are considered the natural reservoir of the Nipah virus, are abundant in Nepal. Infected bats can easily cross borders from India or Bangladesh, increasing the risk of transmission.

Dr. Pun warned that Nepal is vulnerable to Nipah virus infection as it can be transmitted from animals to humans and from person to person. Experts also argue that although Nepal has not experienced any Nipah cases yet, there is a significant gap between the level of threat and existing precautionary measures.

What are the precautions?

When a Nipah virus outbreak was reported in West Bengal, India, Nepali health authorities expressed concern about a possible spread to Nepal.

The Ministry of Health and Population urged citizens to remain alert and shared awareness videos through its social media platforms.

Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, spokesperson for the Ministry, stated that several precautionary measures have been taken to address a potential outbreak. Medical teams have been deployed at land borders and airports to conduct health screenings, including tests related to Nipah virus, for travelers arriving from abroad.

Speaking to The Rising Nepal, Dr. Budhathoki added that the government has been advising individuals to remain in quarantine if they exhibit symptoms associated with the Nipah virus.

“If any case is considered suspicious, samples are sent to laboratories. We are also monitoring cases through our network of 119 laboratories across the country,” he said.

However, experts argue that these measures are insufficient given the severity of the virus. In terms of mortality rate, Nipah virus is considered deadlier than COVID-19.

Dr. Pun emphasized that the government has made no significant preparations for a potential outbreak. 

“We lack proper equipment, infrastructure, and a dedicated response team,” he said.

Although people enter Nepal daily through land borders and airports, health personnel stationed there have not received specialized training for Nipah virus detection. Additionally, Nepal does not have a high-containment laboratory such as a Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) facility.

What is Nipah virus and how it erupted?

According to the World Health Organization, the Nipah virus is a zoonotic pathogen that can be transmitted from animals to humans and between humans.

Fruit bats of the Pteropus species are the primary natural carriers of the virus. Humans can become infected through direct contact with infected bats or other animals, or by consuming food contaminated with bat saliva, urine, or feces.

Human-to-human transmission has also been confirmed, particularly through close contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person.

The Nipah virus was first identified in 1999 following an outbreak of encephalitis and respiratory illness among pig farmers and others who had close contact with infected pigs in Malaysia and Singapore.

Since then, Nipah virus outbreaks have been reported almost every year in several South Asian countries. 

Recently, the northern parts of India and several districts in Bangladesh have experienced outbreaks, resulting in infections among medical personnel.

The virus is listed by the WHO as a priority pathogen under its Research and Development Blueprint, which identifies epidemic threats that require urgent research.