The World Well being Organisation stated on Friday {that a} girl had died in northern Bangladesh in January after contracting the lethal Nipah virus an infection.
The case in Bangladesh, the place Nipah circumstances are reported nearly yearly, follows two Nipah virus circumstances recognized in neighbouring India, which has already prompted stepped-up airport screenings throughout Asia.
The affected person in Bangladesh, aged between 40-50 years, developed signs according to Nipah virus on January 21, together with fever and headache adopted by hypersalivation, disorientation and convulsion, the WHO added.
She died per week later and was confirmed to be contaminated with the virus a day later.
The individual had no journey historical past however had a historical past of consuming uncooked date palm sap. All 35 individuals who had contact with the affected person are being monitored and have examined damaging for the virus, and no additional circumstances have been detected thus far, the WHO stated.
Nipah is an an infection that spreads primarily by means of merchandise contaminated by contaminated bats, reminiscent of fruit. It may be deadly in as much as 75% of circumstances, but it surely doesn’t unfold simply between folks.
Nations together with Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Pakistan carried out temperature screenings at airports after India stated circumstances of the virus had been present in West Bengal.
The WHO stated on Friday that the chance of worldwide illness unfold is taken into account low and that it doesn’t advocate any journey or commerce restrictions primarily based on present data.
In 2025, 4 laboratory-confirmed deadly circumstances had been reported in Bangladesh.
There are presently no licensed medicines or vaccines particular for the an infection.
