The current situation offers the opportunity to review national preparedness to deal with potential outbreaks.
Colorized transmission electron micrograph of a mature Nipah virus extracellular particle (purple) near the periphery of an infected VERO cell (brown). Image captured and color enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Center at Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: NIAID/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
KARACHI:
Infectious disease experts have allayed fears about the Nipah virus following some reported cases in India. They said that only a limited number of cases are reported globally each year and Pakistan is currently not facing any direct threat from the virus, as no cases have been detected anywhere in the country so far.
The experts expressed these views during a panel discussion on Nipah virus, organized at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH).
AKUH Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Faisal Mahmood along with Section Head of Infectious Diseases Dr. Nosheen Nasir briefed the participants about the global virus situation, possible risks to Pakistan and preventive measures.
They informed the conference that only 10 cases of Nipah virus were reported globally last year, while the cases detected in eastern India and Bangladesh do not pose a direct risk to Pakistan. The current situation, they said, provides an important opportunity to examine national preparedness to deal with possible outbreaks.
Learn more: Pakistan steps up border surveillance amid Nipah virus threat as India confirms two cases
Dr Nosheen Nasir said Nipah virus is a zoonotic infection, transmitted from animals to humans, adding that human-to-human transmission is limited, which is why the number of reported cases remains low. She said most cases were reported in eastern India, Bangladesh and Singapore. The virus was first identified in Malaysia in 1998, where it spread from pigs to humans and is named after the area where it was discovered.
She said two cases had been reported in India this year, which the World Health Organization classified as surviving cases. No cases have been reported in Pakistan so far. Dr Nasir added that the initial symptoms of the disease are flu-like, while severe cases can lead to encephalitis, seizure-like episodes and other neurological complications.
Dr Mahmood said there was no immediate need for Nipah virus testing in Pakistan as it was unlikely that cases could be present without being reported. He added that no testing facilities for the virus are currently available in the country; however, if cases are suspected, samples would be sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH), which has the capacity to diagnose rare infections.
Read also: Overall risk of Nipah outbreak in Pakistan remains low, NIH informs high-level meeting
He said the virus could be transmitted by bats, saliva from infected animals and contaminated fruit. He stressed the need to use N95 masks, but there is no need at this time to create separate wards for this disease. Although bats are present in Pakistan, he said, spreading the Nipah virus is not easy.
Experts further said that there is no pig farming in Pakistan, although the virus has already been detected in horses in a few countries. The disease can spread among people living in close contact with infected animals, and if it were to emerge in Pakistan, rural areas would be more vulnerable.
Highlighting the need for preventive measures, experts advised people to wash their hands regularly, wash fruits before consuming them and avoid eating partially cut fruits. They warned that the illness is not limited to cold symptoms and can also cause breathing difficulties.
Dr Mahmood said measles, chickenpox, HIV and hepatitis C currently pose much greater public health challenges in Pakistan. He warned that although measles and chickenpox spread quickly, they can be prevented through vaccination. He added that HIV is no longer confined to specific groups and is increasingly spreading among the general population, calling it a serious public health problem.
