Dr. Piotr Rzymski, a biologist at the Poznań University of Medical Sciences in western Poland, said the virus spreads primarily through contaminated fruit or direct contact with bodily fluids, not through the air like the flu or COVID-19.
“Nipah is not transmitted via airborne droplets, and its natural reservoir—fruit bats—does not inhabit Europe,” Rzymski said.
The virus is endemic to parts of South and Southeast Asia. Infections typically occur after consuming date palm fruits or sap contaminated by bats.
Human-to-human transmission is rare and generally limited to close contact in low-resource settings.
Another factor limiting the virus’s spread is its incubation period—usually 4 to 14 days—and the fact that peak infectiousness occurs after symptoms appear. This allows for quicker identification and isolation of infected individuals.
Reported mortality rates of 40–70 percent may be inflated, Rzymski said, since milder or asymptomatic cases often go undetected in regions with limited healthcare access.
“Like Ebola, Nipah’s high fatality rate can actually hinder its global spread, even if it garners intense media attention,” he said.
Still, Rzymski emphasized the importance of continued research, especially given Nipah's RNA-based structure, which makes it prone to mutations.
The World Health Organization lists it as a priority pathogen for vaccine and drug development.
Candidate vaccines in clinical trials could be crucial for countries such as Bangladesh, India and Malaysia, where the virus is endemic. They may also serve as a global safeguard should future outbreaks occur elsewhere.
“It’s similar to the Ebola vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency in 2020,” Rzymski said. “Not used routinely here, but it’s better to be prepared.”
Recent health screenings in parts of Asia should be seen as routine precautions, he added, reflecting well-functioning sanitary systems and containment protocols.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP