The World Health Organization said on Friday that the risk of the Nipah virus spreading in India remains low, citing the absence of new infections among more than 190 people who had contact with the two confirmed cases.
Anais Legand, an official with the WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, told a press briefing in Geneva that none of the identified contacts had tested positive or developed symptoms of the disease. She added that neither of the infected individuals had travelled while symptomatic, further reducing the likelihood of wider transmission.
“The risk on a national, regional and global level is considered low,” Legand said. Both patients remain hospitalised and alive, with one showing signs of improvement, according to the WHO.
Despite the assessment, several Asian locations, including Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, have tightened airport screening checks this week after India confirmed the infections.
Legand said the WHO is awaiting the release of the virus’s genetic sequence by Indian authorities to assess whether any mutations are present. However, she stressed that there was “no specific evidence that would make us worry for the time being.”
Nipah is a rare virus carried by fruit bats and animals such as pigs. It can cause fever and brain inflammation and has a fatality rate of between 40% and 75%. There is no cure, and vaccines under development are still being tested.
As reported in Reuters, the source of the current infections has not yet been fully identified. Possible causes under consideration include exposure through drinking palm juice or transmission in healthcare settings, the WHO official said.
