Nipah: Why Is the WHO So Concerned About This Virus, for Which There Is No Vaccine?

An unwelcome visitor from the woods

This is a scenario that, unfortunately, is becoming all too familiar. We chip away at the forests, we expand our cities, and suddenly, the barrier between humans and wildlife disappears. This is exactly the story of the Nipah virus. You may not have heard much about it, but it’s on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) radar as one of the most serious threats right now. Why? Because it keeps resurfacing in South Asia, and to date, we have no vaccine to stop it.

It all began in 1999. At the time, an outbreak struck Malaysia and Singapore, initially affecting pig farmers. By tracing the virus back to its source, scientists identified its natural reservoir: fruit bats—those large flying foxes that inhabit the tropics. Since then, the virus has spread. Cases have been reported in the Philippines, Bangladesh, and, more recently, India.

How does the virus spread to humans?

In practical terms, how do people contract this virus? It’s not always direct. Often, it occurs through contaminated fruit. An infected bat nibbles on a mango or a date, leaving saliva or urine on it, and if a human consumes that fruit, infection occurs. In India, researchers have identified several species of flying foxes that carry the virus.

But the danger doesn’t stop there. The virus can also be transmitted from person to person through bodily fluids. This is where things get complicated for healthcare workers. The Independent recently reported that doctors and nurses were infected in the state of Kerala in 2023. This shows just how fragile protective protocols in hospitals can be when faced with such an adversary.

A Mortality Rate That Sends a Chill Down Your Spine

What makes Nipah particularly dangerous is its initial stealth, followed by extreme virulence. It advances under the radar: the incubation period can last up to three weeks. At first, it’s mistaken for a simple flu with fever, body aches, and a headache. Sounds familiar, right?

Except that things can quickly spiral into encephalitis—that is, inflammation of the brain. Confusion, seizures, even coma… The clinical picture is grim. The WHO’s figures are stark: the fatality rate ranges from 40% to 75%, depending on the outbreak. And what about those who survive? They aren’t always out of the woods, facing risks of persistent neurological sequelae or even late relapses.

India on High Alert

Faced with this threat, Indian authorities are taking no chances. During the 2023 alert, the response was massive. The Ministry of Health locked down nine villages and banned public gatherings. Imagine the scale of the task: teams visited more than 53,000 households to screen for potential cases, as reported by the WHO.

In the Kozhikode district, which has already endured three waves in less than five years, the system is well-oiled. Dedicated ambulances, reinforced isolation units, and even psychological support for the population. The National Institute of Virology has confirmed that the current strain resembles the one from Bangladesh, proving that the virus is indeed circulating in the region.

Nipah may not spread as quickly as COVID-19, but its high fatality rate makes it a sword of Damocles. As long as there is no treatment or vaccine, our only defense remains surveillance and, above all, better management of our coexistence with wildlife.

Source: science-et-vie.com

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Nipah: Why Is the WHO So Concerned About This Virus, for Which There Is No Vaccine?