According to information provided by RIA Novosti, the Russian office of the World Health Organization (WHO) reports a low risk of the Nipah virus spreading beyond India.
The eastern part of the country, specifically the state of West Bengal, where two cases of infection have been registered, is under careful monitoring by WHO.
“Both cases have been isolated, and extensive contact tracing has been conducted, resulting in nearly 200 contacts testing negative. Based on current information, WHO assesses the risk of further spread of the infection, including beyond India, as low,” the organization stated.
In mid-January, the authorities of West Bengal reported that two healthcare workers had contracted the Nipah virus. They are in the Barasat hospital where they work and are currently placed in isolation connected to a ventilator. Despite reports from Western media about a possible increase in cases, Indian officials have not confirmed new instances of virus transmission.
The World Health Organization describes Nipah as one of the most threatening viruses for which there is neither a vaccine nor specific treatment. The virus causes symptoms such as fever and encephalopathy, leading to brain cell death, with a mortality rate ranging from 40% to 75%. The virus spreads through flying foxes and bats, and humans can become infected by consuming fruits contaminated with the saliva of infected animals. Additionally, the virus can be transmitted from domestic animals, but it is not spread through the air and requires direct contact with the biological fluids of the infected.
