Technical Brief: Enhancing readiness for a Nipah virus event in countries not reporting a Nipah virus event

Overview

Nipah virus infection is an emerging serious zoonotic disease transmitted to humans through infected animals (such as fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family or pigs) or food contaminated with excretion and secretions from bats infected with Nipah virus. It can also be transmitted from human-to-human through close contact. The case-fatality rate is estimated at 40% to 75%, while this rate can vary by the outbreak depending on local capabilities for epidemiological surveillance and clinical management. There is no treatment or vaccine available for either people or animals. Since 2001, Nipah virus has caused outbreaks of severe illness and death in Bangladesh and India.

This Technical Brief was developed as an interim document to guide countries for the readiness planning for a Nipah virus event especially in countries which have not reported a Nipah virus event. It summarizes the basic facts on the Nipah virus, key public health measures, and priority actions for the Member States, including planning and coordination, surveillance, laboratory, clinical management, including infection prevention and control at health-care settings, risk communication and community engagement, and One Health. Joint risk assessment approach is strongly encouraged, engaging all relevant sectors and stakeholders to analyze the risk pathways, and to guide readiness planning and national response plans. This document is complementary to the WHO South-East Asia Regional Strategy for the prevention and control of Nipah virus infection 2023–2030.