Six countries to avoid due to incurable Nipah virus

The deadly Nipah virus can mainly spread in countries with hot climates, including Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Madagascar, Nepal, and Thailand. This was stated by Dr. Elena Malinnikova, a Doctor of Medical Sciences, infectious disease specialist, and virologist.

«People most often get sick where they have very active contact with sick animals. At the same time, the virus can sometimes be transmitted through food, when consuming meat from a sick animal without proper heat treatment. Accordingly, the risk factors are healthcare workers by profession, livestock farmers. These people can even be spreaders of this infection,» she told TASS.

According to her, outbreaks are most often detected in small settlements where many are engaged in animal husbandry.

«Therefore, tourists should better avoid such places and not visit endemic regions in each of these countries. It is best to stick to tourist routes,» she clarified.

If you still decide to travel, you should carefully monitor hygiene, wash hands, fruits and vegetables, drink bottled water, and only consume trusted food products. And if after the trip you feel unwell, it is necessary to definitely consult a doctor and mention the visit to another country.

The Nipah virus can be transmitted from animals to humans and between humans. In India, it is most often contracted through contact with bats. In humans, it can be asymptomatic or cause acute respiratory diseases. 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 currently no treatment or vaccine for the virus.

Everything about the danger of the Nipah virus, the possibility of its treatment, and its spread in Russia was covered in a separate article. Read more at the link.