Nipah virus could enter Russia via tourists, virologists warn
Despite the outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus starting far away—in India, doctors are still concerned about its spread. The disease could enter Russia via tourists. Virologists detailed the danger of the infection and the risk of a new pandemic.
How the Indian virus can reach Russia
The Nipah virus can be transmitted from animals to humans and between humans. In India, people are most often infected through contact with bats. In humans, it can be asymptomatic or cause acute respiratory illnesses. The main symptoms include fever, headache and muscle pain, nausea, and sore throat.
In severe cases, the infection can lead to brain inflammation and coma within two days. There is no treatment or vaccine for the virus yet.
The risk of the disease spreading boils down to it being brought into the country by ordinary tourists. And it«s quite simple.
«If a person falls ill in India, for example, a day or two before returning, they still feel okay and might feel fine on the plane, and then, when they arrive home, their temperature suddenly rises. This is how the infection can be brought to Russian territory,» said the specialist in a conversation with RIA Novosti.
According to Kompanets, registered cases of imported infection indicate such spread of the virus. Moreover, the incubation period can last two to three days. Because of this, it«s hard to tell that a person is already infected, as symptoms may not appear even at the airport.
Symptoms of Nipah and why they are dangerous
According to academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAN) Gennady Onishchenko, infection with this virus causes inflammation of the meninges. Additionally, there are no medicines or vaccines for this ailment yet. The disease is treated symptomatically.
«The mortality rate after the disease is quite high, in part because it hasn»t been learned how to treat it yet. The virus began to be recorded as a separate disease in the late 90s. It lives in Southeast Asia. The natural reservoir is animals, often—bats,« explained the doctor in a conversation with AiF.
Among the early symptoms observed in patients are:
high fever;
headache;
muscle aches and weakness;
sore throat.
Further, the virus affects the nervous system. According to Onishchenko, at this point, a person experiences severe drowsiness, lethargy, confusion, and seizures. Moreover, the condition quickly deteriorates, up to coma.
Is a new pandemic possible
In Russia, there is no natural habitat for this virus, as it is transmitted through fruit bats of the genus Pteropus, known as «flying foxes.» However, the risk of a pandemic still exists, noted Dr. Alexander Myasnikov.
Imported cases of infection could lead to the spread of the virus. They are difficult to transmit from person to person, but with close contact, infection is still possible. For example, if a person cares for a patient or communicates closely with them. Additionally, the virus can be transmitted through airborne droplets during direct contact, which happens in rare cases.
Widespread spread of the virus is hindered by the high mortality rate (50–75%), because the patient instantly becomes seriously ill and is immediately isolated from society. Nevertheless, Nipah poses a serious challenge to doctors, emphasized Myasnikov in his Telegram channel.
Furthermore, four viruses could provoke a new pandemic this year, among which are monkeypox, rubella, bird flu, and Oropouche fever. Scientists believe that against this background, an unknown pathogen X will appear.
