ISLAMABAD: The National Institute of Health (NIH) has stated that the risk of the Nipah virus (NiV) occurring in Pakistan is low but has called on authorities at entry points across the country to remain vigilant.
Nipah virus, according to the World Health Organization, was first identified in 1999 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia. It can be transmitted to humans from animals such as pigs and bats or contaminated food and can also spread directly from human to human. Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are the natural hosts of the Nipah virus, and there is currently no specific treatment or vaccine available for either humans or animals. Supportive care is the primary treatment for human cases.
Recent months have seen Nipah virus cases reappear in India’s Kerala state, leading to school closures and the testing of hundreds of residents.
In an advisory issued on October 7, the NIH reported six NiV cases in the Indian state in September, resulting in two deaths. The advisory noted that several countries, including Bangladesh, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and India, have reported confirmed cases of the Nipah virus in humans, highlighting it as a public health concern despite its relatively low frequency of outbreaks.
Regarding Pakistan, the advisory indicated that the overall risk of the disease occurring in the country is low, and there have been no documented animal or human cases of infection to date. However, factors such as the presence of Pteropus giganteus bats, international travel, and a long border with India, where NiV cases are quite high, could potentially contribute to the emergence of NiV in Pakistan.
Key Measures and Vigilance Protocol
The advisory outlined precautionary measures that authorities can take to prevent NiV occurrence in Pakistan. These measures include raising awareness of risk factors and mitigation measures, active case finding, contact tracing, isolation and quarantine of cases and contacts, and promoting proper fruit washing and avoidance of partially consumed fruits contaminated with bat secretions.
Healthcare professionals have to be aware of NiV signs and symptoms, obtain travel history when assessing patients, practice standard infection control precautions, and share suspected NiV case samples with the NIH. The advisory emphasized the need for vigilant monitoring and notification of any suspected NiV cases or events by federal and provincial health departments, points of entry, hospitals, clinicians, laboratory personnel, and livestock and dairy departments, with the NIH closely monitoring the situation.
