UK health authorities have issued a warning to travellers following an outbreak of the Nipah virus in India. Two cases have been confirmed in West Bengal, prompting heightened surveillance across several Asian countries.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the risk to most people remains very low, but understanding the virus is important for those travelling to affected areas. No cases have ever been recorded in the UK.
Nipah virus can be transmitted from animals to humans, through contaminated food, or directly from person to person. The UKHSA estimates that 40 to 75 per cent of those infected will die. There is currently no specific treatment available.
Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert at the University of East Anglia, said the virus is unlikely to pose a significant global spread risk due to low person-to-person transmission. However, he cautioned that the long incubation period of up to 21 days makes border detection difficult.
Symptoms include fever, flu-like illness, pneumonia, and in severe cases, encephalitis or meningitis. Survivors may experience persistent seizures and personality changes. The UKHSA advises travellers to avoid contact with sick individuals and to avoid consuming raw fruits or date palm juice in affected areas.
