Say the current situation provides an opportunity to revise national preparedness to deal with potential epidemics
Colored transmission electron micrograph of a mature extracellular Nipah Virus particle (purple) near the periphery of an infected VERO cell (brown). The image was taken and color enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: NIAID/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
KARACHI:
Infectious disease experts have allayed fears of the Nipah virus in the wake of some cases reported in India. They said that only a limited number of cases are reported globally each year and that Pakistan currently faces no direct threat from the virus as no cases have been detected anywhere in the country so far.
The experts expressed these views during a round table conference on the Nipah virus held at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH).
Associate Chief Medical Officer AKUH and infectious disease specialist Dr. Faisal Mahmood, together with section head for infectious diseases Dr. Nosheen Nasir, briefed the participants on the global situation of the virus, possible risks to Pakistan and preventive measures.
They informed the conference that only 10 cases of Nipah virus were reported worldwide last year, while 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 review national preparedness to deal with potential epidemics.
Read more: Pakistan tightens border surveillance over Nipah virus threat as India confirms two cases
Dr. Nosheen Nasir said that Nipah virus is a zoonotic infection that is 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 have been reported in eastern India, Bangladesh and Singapore. The virus was first identified in Malaysia in 1998, where it spread from pigs to humans, and was named after the area where it was discovered.
She said two cases have been reported in India this year, which the World Health Organization has classified as surviving cases. No cases have been reported in Pakistan so far. Dr. Nasir added that early symptoms of the disease resemble flu, 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 screening in Pakistan as it was unlikely that cases could be present without being reported. He added that no testing facility for the virus is currently available in the country; However, in the case of a suspected case, the samples will be sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH), which has the capacity to diagnose rare infections.
Read also: The overall risk of Nipah outbreak in Pakistan remains low, NIH high-level statement
He said the virus could be transmitted through bats, saliva from infected animals and contaminated fruit. He stressed the need to use N95 masks, but there is no need at present to establish separate wards for the disease. Although bats are present in Pakistan, he said, the spread of Nipah virus is not easy.
The experts further stated that there are no pig farms in Pakistan, although the virus has previously 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.
The experts emphasized the need for preventive measures and advised people to wash hands regularly, wash fruits before consumption and avoid eating partially cut fruits. They warned that the disease is not limited to common cold symptoms and can also cause breathing difficulties.
Dr. Mahmood said measles, chicken pox, HIV and hepatitis C currently pose far greater public health challenges in Pakistan. He warned that while measles and chickenpox spread quickly, they can be prevented through vaccination. He added that HIV is no longer limited to specific groups and is increasingly spreading in the general population, calling it a serious public health problem.
