DOH on Nipah Virus: No local cases recorded since 2014

National

THE Department of Health (DOH) on Monday reassured the public that the Nipah virus (NiV) remains "rare" in the Philippines, noting that no new cases have been detected in the country for over a decade.

This statement follows reports of a recent outbreak in India, which has prompted several Asian neighbors to heighten airport surveillance.

While the virus is currently making headlines abroad, DOH spokesperson Dr. Albert Domingo emphasized that the Philippines has not seen a case since a localized outbreak in 2014.

"Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease, meaning it comes from animals. It usually originates from bats, but animals such as pigs and horses can also be infected. This is rare," Domingo said in an Inquirer.net report

The last recorded transmission in the country occurred in Sultan Kudarat, where 17 cases were logged. During that time, the DOH observed symptoms including the flu, inflammation of the brain known as encephalitis, and meningitis, which affects the brain’s protective layer and the spinal cord.

"After 2014, the Nipah virus was no longer detected, and the DOH continued to monitor through the Epidemiology Bureau," Domingo added.

To maintain this status, he reminded the public to avoid contact with bats and other diseased animals. He further advised the consumption of well-cooked meat specifically approved by the National Meat Inspection Service.

The recent international alert was triggered by two infections in West Bengal, India. While 196 close contacts tested negative according to India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, nearby nations including Thailand, Nepal, and Taiwan have already implemented precautionary screenings at major airports for passengers arriving from India.

In a 2018 study, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified fruit bats as the natural hosts of the virus. The WHO noted that the virus is transmitted not only through animal-contaminated food but also "directly between people."

In previous outbreaks across Bangladesh and India, the most likely source of infection was the consumption of fruits or fruit products contaminated with the urine or saliva of infected fruit bats.

The virus is particularly dangerous due to its high fatality rate, which the WHO estimates ranges from 40 percent to 75 percent depending on local clinical management. Initial symptoms include fever, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting, and sore throat. These can progress to dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, and neurological signs indicating acute encephalitis.

The WHO also reported symptoms of atypical pneumonia and severe respiratory problems, with severe cases leading to seizures or a coma.

For those who survive, the road to recovery can be long and complex. Those who survive acute encephalitis may still face long-term neurological conditions.

"Approximately 20% of patients are left with residual neurological consequences such as seizure disorder and personality changes. A small number of people who recover subsequently relapse or develop delayed onset encephalitis," the WHO detailed.

Currently, there are no available vaccines or drugs specific to NiV, leaving intensive supportive care as the only recommended treatment for those suffering from severe complications.(Jhon Mark A. Aboabo, USJR Comm Intern)