Paweł Grzesiowski said the Nipah virus occurs in parts of Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and India, and urged Poles staying in affected regions to follow basic safety rules.
“Do not consume fruit of unknown origin,” he told Polish Radio. “If you must eat it, wash it thoroughly and preferably peel it.”
Grzesiowski also stressed frequent handwashing and avoiding contact with seriously ill people. “This disease can progress very rapidly,” he said, noting symptoms that include breathing problems, vomiting, diarrhea and, in severe cases, encephalitis.
India has reported at least one death linked to the virus, with hundreds of people placed under quarantine. In mid-January, Indian media reported new infections in West Bengal, where two healthcare workers remain in a coma in intensive care. Additional cases were later confirmed.
Nipah is transmitted by bats and can also spread through direct contact with bodily fluids of an infected person or by consuming contaminated food.
Following the outbreak in eastern India, Thailand, Nepal and Taiwan reinstated airport health screenings similar to those used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The World Health Organization classifies Nipah as a pathogen with high epidemic potential, warning it poses a serious public health threat wherever it emerges.
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Source: Polish Radio