The National Institute of Health for Pakistan (NIH) has issued an advisory for the people on the Nipah Virus on Wednesday.
According to the advisory, there is no vaccine for the virus yet. Therefore, it is especially important to follow the precautionary measures.
NIH advisory for travellers
The National Institute of Health (NIH) has issued an advisory instructing the Ministry of Health Services to implement strict screening measures at airports, border checkpoints, and land crossings.
All travellers entering Pakistan must undergo 100 per cent screening, and authorities are required to verify their complete travel history for the past 21 days.
Travellers coming from areas affected by the Nipah virus or considered high-risk will be placed under special monitoring.
Thermal screening and medical examination will be mandatory for every traveller.
Any individual showing suspected Nipah symptoms will be immediately isolated, and no traveller will be allowed entry into Pakistan without clearance.
The advisory clarifies that no confirmed cases of Nipah have been reported in Pakistan.
Nipah virus Pakistan: advisory for provinces
All provinces have been instructed to designate hospitals or isolation units for potential Nipah patients.
NIH has also directed that Rapid Response Teams and Emergency Operation Centres remain on high alert.
Nipah virus vaccine
As there is no approved vaccine or treatment for Nipah. This means detection and precautionary measures are essential to prevent the spread, the advisory suggests.
India Nipah virus: 2 cases confirmed
The Indian government on Tuesday confirmed two cases of Nipah virus in eastern West Bengal.
Some Asian countries began screening travellers from the state.
Thailand and Nepal recently started checking passengers from West Bengal at airports.
While Hong Kong said it was screening travellers and seeking information from Indian health authorities.
Nipah virus outbreak: what is it?
Nipah virus is a disease that spreads from animals to humans. It was first discovered in 1999 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia and Singapore.
Fruit bats are the main carriers of this virus. But they can also infect other animals like pigs, dogs, goats, horses, and sheep.
As for humans, they can get infected by direct contact with infected animals. Or by even consuming fruits or fruit products contaminated with bat saliva or waste.
The virus can also spread from person to person through close contact with an infected person or their body fluids.
There is no vaccine for Nipah. Therefore, it is highly recommended to take precautionary measures.
Nipah Virus (NiV): what symptoms can one feel?
Symptoms of the Nipah virus usually appear 4 to 14 days after exposure to it. But in some cases, they can take up to 45 days.
The virus is highly dangerous. The fatality rate is from 40 per cent to 75 per cent.
In the early stage, the patient may feel infected people often experience sudden high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, extreme fatigue, sore throat, persistent cough, and vomiting.
As the infection strengthens, it can affect the respiratory system. This can cause difficulty in breathing, severe lung problems, or atypical pneumonia.
In severe cases, the virus targets the brain. This will lead to dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and encephalitis, which is swelling of the brain, in easier terms.
This stage can quickly get even worse and cause seizures and even a coma within 24 to 48 hours.
How does it affect the human body?
The virus primarily attacks the central nervous system, which can result in permanent brain damage or death.
In critical cases, it can also cause multi-organ failure. For example, it may affect the heart, liver, and kidneys.
Around 20 per cent of survivors may face long-term neurological problems. This includes persistent seizures, memory loss, personality or behavioural changes, and chronic fatigue.
In rare cases, the virus can remain for months or even years later. It may also lead to relapsed encephalitis.
Read more: Deadly Nipah virus clouds India’s T-20 World Cup dream
