The World Health Organization announced on the 30th regarding the recent Nipah virus situation in India, stating that the current global risk of Nipah virus transmission is low.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the WHO website issued a bulletin on the 30th reporting that on the 26th, the Indian side notified the WHO of two laboratory-confirmed cases of Nipah virus infection in West Bengal state, India. Both patients were healthcare workers at the same private hospital. India's National Institute of Virology in Pune confirmed these two cases on the 13th. With the support of this institute, Indian authorities have traced and tested more than 190 close contacts, all of whom tested negative for Nipah virus. No other cases have been found so far.
The bulletin mentioned that this is the third outbreak of Nipah virus reported in West Bengal, which had previously reported outbreaks in 2001 and 2007. Across India, this is the 13th Nipah virus outbreak reported since 2001. Currently, relevant Indian authorities have strengthened surveillance and control measures and are investigating the source of the virus.
WHO’s assessment is that the risk of Nipah virus spread at the subnational level (specific outbreak regions) is moderate, while the risk at the national, regional, and global levels is low.
Nipah virus disease is a rare but severe zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from infected animals (such as bats) to humans, or to humans through food contaminated with the saliva, urine, or feces of relevant animals. It can also be transmitted from person to person through close contact with infected individuals. The case fatality rate is between 40% and 75%. There are currently no approved targeted treatments or vaccines, but early supportive therapy can improve survival rates.