Kathmandu: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged the public to remain alert to the risk of Nipah virus infection, following reports of its spread in neighboring India, despite the risk in Nepal being assessed as low.
In a statement issued on February 2, the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) said health facilities and relevant agencies across the country have been put on alert as part of preparedness efforts. The Ministry has also developed a Nipah virus surveillance and response algorithm in view of the outbreak in India.
Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the public health risk of the Nipah virus as low at both the global and South-East Asia regional levels, the Ministry has urged people to adopt necessary precautionary measures.
Ministry spokesperson and Head of the Health Emergency and Disaster Management Unit, Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, said the Ministry is fully committed to protecting public health and is taking all required measures. He requested the public not to panic, but to remain alert, cautious, and responsible.
He advised washing fruits thoroughly before consumption, properly cooking vegetables, and drinking only clean and boiled water. He also stressed maintaining cleanliness in animal sheds and farms, wearing gloves and masks while handling meat, washing hands regularly with soap and water, and wearing masks in crowded places.
Dr. Budhathoki urged people to immediately visit the nearest health facility or call 1115 if any suspicious symptoms appear.
According to health experts, Nipah virus infection can occur through consumption of fruits contaminated by the saliva, urine, or feces of infected bats. The virus can also be transmitted through blood, saliva, urine, close contact with infected individuals, or from pigs exposed to bats.
The Ministry has further called for strict adherence to patient identification, isolation, reporting, and infection prevention and control measures if symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, cough, breathing difficulties, dizziness, vomiting, or, in severe cases, loss of consciousness are observed.
(RSS)
