By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Department of Health (DOH) has assured South Africans that there is no immediate risk to the country following the detection of the deadly Nipah virus (NiV) outbreak in India.
Nipah is regarded as one of the world’s most lethal viruses, with no available vaccine and a fatality rate estimated by the World Health Organization to be between 40% and 75%. The virus is transmitted from animals to humans and can also spread through close human contact, making rapid detection and isolation critical.
The disease was first identified in 1998 following an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia. India recorded its first Nipah outbreak in West Bengal in 2001, placing the region among areas with prior exposure to the virus.
More recently, Kerala experienced a deadly outbreak in 2018 that claimed at least 17 lives, followed by two further deaths linked to Nipah in the state in 2023.
According to the department, it is working closely with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), which is actively monitoring developments as the situation evolves. Health authorities have emphasised that the risk of transmission outside the affected countries remains very low, and there is currently no need for public panic.
At this stage, experts have advised that screening at South Africa’s ports of entry is not required.
However, as part of preparedness and risk-communication measures, the NICD will provide training to the Civil Aviation Authority, as well as airline and airport staff, to assist with awareness and information sharing.
Common symptoms of Nipah virus infection include fever, headache, coughing and difficulty breathing, which can progress to more severe illness.