HCMC monitors travelers from Nipah virus-affected areas

HCMC – In response to the Nipah virus outbreak in India, HCMC authorities are taking measures to monitor individuals entering Vietnam from affected areas.

The HCMC Center for Disease Control (HCDC) has initiated a 24/7 supervision of passengers arriving in Vietnam through international border crossings, including Tan Son Nhat International Airport and HCMC seaports.

The objective is to swiftly identify individuals showing symptoms of Nipah virus infection and isolate them for quarantine.

HCDC has urged passengers arriving from regions with reported Nipah virus outbreaks to promptly contact medical centers for consultation and immediate treatment if they exhibit suspicious symptoms. These symptoms may include fever, headache lasting from 3 to 14 days, along with cough, sore throat, and shortness of breath.

During the past week, the southern Indian state of Kerala has reported six cases of Nipah virus infection, resulting in two fatalities since the virus emerged in late August.

This marks the fourth Nipah virus outbreak in India during the past five years, with the most recent occurring in 2021.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Nipah virus outbreaks, although typically confined to a small geographic area, have high mortality rates, ranging from 40% to 75%, depending on the virus strain.

At present, there are no specific medications or vaccines available for treating the Nipah virus disease.

Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus that can be transmitted from animals or contaminated food to humans, or through direct human-to-human contact. Infections can range from asymptomatic to acute respiratory illness and encephalomyelitis, with potentially fatal outcomes.

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