Health experts say Nipah virus poses no immediate threat to Pakistan

Say current situation provides opportunity to review national preparedness for dealing with potential epidemics

KARACHI:

Infectious disease experts have dispelled fears about the Nipah virus in the wake of some cases reported in India. They said only a limited number of cases are reported globally each year and that Pakistan currently faces no direct threat from the virus, as no case has so far been detected anywhere in the country.

The experts expressed these views during a roundtable conference on the Nipah virus, held at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH).

Associate Chief Medical Officer AKUH and infectious disease specialist Dr Faisal Mahmood, along with Section Head of Infectious Diseases Dr Nosheen Nasir, briefed participants on the global situation of the virus, possible risks for 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 for dealing with potential epidemics.

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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 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 case has been reported in Pakistan so far. Dr Nasir added that early symptoms of the disease resemble those of flu, while severe cases can lead to encephalitis, seizure-like episodes, and other neurological complications.

Dr Mahmood said that 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 event of a suspected case, samples would be sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH), which has the capacity to diagnose rare infections.

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He said that the virus could be transmitted through bats, saliva of infected animals, and contaminated fruits. 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, though 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.

Stressing the need for preventive measures, the experts advised people to wash their hands regularly, wash fruits before consumption, and avoid eating partially cut fruits. They cautioned that the disease is not limited to common cold symptoms and can also cause breathing difficulties.

Dr Mahmood said that measles, chickenpox, HIV, and Hepatitis C currently pose far greater public health challenges in Pakistan. He warned that while measles and chickenpox spread rapidly, they are preventable through vaccination. He added that HIV is no longer confined to specific groups and is increasingly spreading in the general population, calling it a serious public health issue.