Nipah virus: tourists traveling to India should be alert

Last week, a warning appeared on the official website of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-being on the spread of the deadly Nipah virus in India. Today we will talk about this virus and what should be wary of tourists who decide to visit this country in the summer.

Kerala state on map of India

Nipah virus was registered in Kerala in May 2018. This state is located on the west coast of India and has a developed tourism sector. There are many beach resorts, famous historical monuments and national parks, which are popular among travelers.

Nipah virus has a zoonotic origin, that is, its carriers are wild animals, which cause outbreaks of infections. Herbivorous bats were named carriers of the Nipah virus in Kerala, and more than 30 people were infected, according to the Indian authorities, from eating contaminated food (fruits, vegetables) or water. At risk is not only India, but the entire territory inhabited by the bats that are carriers of the Nipah virus. These are most of the countries of Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, southeast China, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore. Infection can occur from contact with pig meat, which is also susceptible to this disease.

This is a relatively young virus that was first reported in 1999 after an outbreak in Malaysia. Over the years, more than 10 outbreaks have been reported, most of which occurred in Bangladesh. Symptoms and the course of the disease itself can vary greatly in different people - from a complete absence of symptoms to fatal encephalitis. In most cases, an infected person rises in temperature, headache, nausea, weakness and drowsiness are observed, and in some cases, respiratory tract damage, such as SARS or acute respiratory failure, may develop.

The situation is complicated by the fact that there is no vaccine or any special medicine against the Nipah virus. For this reason, mortality from the virus can reach up to 75%.