Nipah virus risk in Armenia considered low

PanARMENIAN.Net - The epidemiological risk of Nipah virus spreading in Armenia is low, according to the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, due to the absence of fruit bats, the virus’s primary carriers, within the country’s territory.

Nipah virus is an emerging zoonotic infection that spreads among both animals and humans. Its main reservoirs are fruit bats and pigs.

Humans can become infected through the consumption of fruit or palm sap contaminated with the saliva or urine of fruit bats, as well as through contact with pigs or raw animal products. The virus can also be transmitted from person to person through close contact with an infected individual.

Outbreaks have been recorded in recent years in Malaysia, Bangladesh, and India. Countries such as Cambodia, Ghana, Indonesia, Madagascar, the Philippines, and Thailand are considered high-risk zones.

The illness can range from asymptomatic to severe, with respiratory symptoms, encephalitis, and neurological complications. The incubation period typically lasts between 4 to 14 days.

To avoid infection, health authorities recommend thoroughly washing fruits before consumption, avoiding underprocessed palm sap, consuming only properly cooked animal products, avoiding close contact with sick individuals, maintaining personal hygiene, and using protective gear when handling animals.