According to information from the WHO, two confirmed cases of the disease were recorded in January in the Indian state of West Bengal. Both patients are employees of a private hospital. The authorities conducted monitoring and identified nearly 200 people who had contact with them, but no new cases have been registered. Experts noted that there are no signs of sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus.
The WHO assesses the "regional and global risk of infection spread as low," and based on the available data, the organization sees no grounds for imposing restrictions on international travel or trade.
The Nipah virus is a rare and dangerous disease that is transmitted from animals to humans, and, in rare cases, between people through close contact. According to the WHO, there are no effective vaccines or specific treatments, and the mortality rate can reach 40-75% depending on the specific outbreak.
Previously, the WHO included the Nipah virus in the list of pathogens capable of causing serious international outbreaks.
In light of the events in India, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan have also strengthened medical control at their borders.
