The Health Bureau (SSM) said in a warning yesterday that it is closely monitoring recent media reports about Nipah virus infection cases in West Bengal, India.
The bureau urged residents to avoid travelling to the region and said that it will enhance screening and medical examinations at Macau’s border checkpoints for individuals with a relevant travel history or exhibiting symptoms.
The statement said that five individuals in West Bengal have been diagnosed with the virus. The West Bengal government has implemented measures in response to the outbreak that remains confined to the area, the statement said, adding that countries bordering West Bengal have strengthened quarantine and surveillance measures at airports and border crossings.
West Bengal borders Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan.
The bureau explained in the statement that the Nipah virus is a potentially fatal zoonotic* virus. Since its discovery in 1999, human infection cases have been reported multiple times in Bangladesh and India. The virus is primarily carried by fruit bats and can be transmitted to humans through contaminated food, such as fruit, or contact with infected pigs. Human-to-human transmission is also possible. The fatality rate among infected individuals ranges between 40 and 75 percent.
Infected humans may either be asymptomatic or develop acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. Early symptoms resemble those of influenza, while severe cases may involve breathing difficulties, drowsiness, confusion, and other complications. The incubation period typically lasts between four and 14 days, but can extend up to 45 days. Currently, there are no effective vaccines or specific treatments available for the virus, the statement noted.
The Health Bureau urged members of the public to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene. Unless necessary, travel to affected areas should be avoided, the statement said.
If travel is unavoidable, the statement said, it is recommended to refrain from consuming unclean fruit, avoid contact with animals and sick individuals, and seek early medical attention and proactively inform healthcare providers of one’s travel history if any discomfort occurs after returning from the affected region.
* A zoonotic virus is a virus that can be transmitted from animals to humans. These viruses often originate in animals and may cause diseases in humans after crossing the species barrier.
Colourised transmission electron micrograph of a mature extracellular Nipah Virus particle (purple). – Photo courtesy of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the United States.
