New Delhi, February 7 (IANS). The World Health Organization has confirmed the death of a woman due to Nipah virus in Bangladesh. After this case came to light, screening at airports across Asia has been increased. Two similar cases were confirmed in India just 2 weeks ago. Both were health workers hailing from 24 Parganas of West Bengal.
WHO said on Friday that a 40 to 50-year-old patient in Bangladesh showed symptoms of Nipah virus on January 21, which included fever and headache followed by excessive salivation, confusion and seizures.
He died a week later, and was confirmed infected with the virus a day later. The woman had no travel history, but investigation revealed that she had drunk the juice of raw dates.
WHO said all 35 people who came in contact with the patient are being monitored and have tested negative for the virus, and no additional cases have been reported so far.
Nipah is spread through contaminated objects, such as fruits, from infected bats. It can be fatal in 75 percent of cases, but it does not spread easily between people.
Only after the virus case came to light in India, many countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia had implemented screening at airports.
WHO said Friday that the risk of spreading the disease internationally is considered low and that it does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions based on current information. In 2025, four lab-confirmed fatal cases were reported in Bangladesh.
Currently there is no medicine or vaccine for this infection. According to WHO, this infection can be avoided by regularly washing hands with soap and water, maintaining distance from flying fox bats or sick pigs, avoiding going to places where bats are found, and avoiding touching or eating fruits or other things that are infested by bats.
–IANS
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