ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): As Nipah virus cases were reported in India, authorities in Pakistan have ordered to enforce enhanced screening at all entry points in the country with immediate effect to avoid its spread.
Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and several other Southeast Asian countries have already set up strict health surveillance at airports to prevent the spread of the deadly infection.
Amid the Nipah virus outbreak, the Border Health Services-Pakistan (BHS-P) issued an advisory, ordering “enforce strict and enhanced health surveillance” at all points of entry in order to prevent the cross-border transmission of Nipah virus in Pakistan and to ensure early detection and prompt response.
The official advisory said that “all travelers shall undergo thermal screening and clinical assessment at the Point of Entry, which includes seaports, land borders, and airports.” The authority cited a regional alert reported by the WHO South East Asia Region Epidemiological Bulletin.
It said that cases of Nipah infection were reported in West Bengal, India, and has high case fatality rate, zoonotic nature, and potential for human-to-human transmission. “It has become imperative to further strengthen preventive and surveillance measures at Pakistan’s borders.”
What is Nipah virus?
Nipah virus is a viral infection carried by fruit bats and animals such as pigs and can trigger a deadly brain-swelling fever in humans, and can also spread directly from person to person through close contact.
It can be asymptomatic, but with a case fatality rate of 40 per cent to 75 per cent, it can be very dangerous, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.
Nipah virus is classified as a priority pathogen by the World Health Organisation (WHO) because of its ability to spark fast‑moving outbreaks and the fact that there is no approved vaccine or cure.
However, while it can also spread from person to person, it does not do this easily, and outbreaks are usually small and fairly contained, according to experts and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Candidate vaccines are under development, although none have been approved yet.
Nipah virus symptoms
The initial symptoms of the Nipah virus are fever, headaches, and muscle pain, which can be confused with other diseases.
After these symptoms, people witness neurological signs indicating acute encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, and in some cases, respiratory problems. In sever case, seizures occur and coma in the next few days.
If people get better or make a full recovery, they experience long-term neurological problems.
There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for Nipah, although several candidates are undergoing testing, including one developed by the Oxford University scientists involved in developing one of the Covid-19 vaccines.
How Nipah virus spread?
When first identified in Malaysia, Nipah spread largely through direct contact with sick pigs or contaminated tissues.
Since then, it more commonly spreads from contact with what scientists say is its natural host: fruit bats. More specifically, the consumption of fruit or fruit products, like raw date palm juice, containing urine or saliva from infected fruit bats has been the most likely source of infection, according to the WHO.
Human-to-human spread has been found, mainly after close contact between a sick patient and their family or caregivers.
