There has been an outbreak of a virus in India which has prompted other countries to tighten security as well, Thailand being one of them.
Keep reading to know more.
West Bengal in India has announced two cases of the Nipah virus since December, and countries around the world have been taking precautions so that the spread of the virus can be stopped immediately.
The Nipah virus is not a new one, but has been around since it was recognized in 1999 after an outbreak in Malaysia. The virus, as it stands currently, has no cure. And the fatality rate associated with it is about 40% to 75%
According to the World Health Organization, the spread of the disease is mainly through bats and pigs, but it can also be spread through goats, horses, dogs, or even cats.
The disease, when it spreads to humans, can be transmitted from contact with an infected person.
This is why Nepal, Taiwan and Thailand are also immediately responding to the virus with strict rules and protocols in place.
Thailand has already stepped up preventative measures at major airports and have now reportedly screened over 1,700 travelers. There have so far been no reports of infections.
The screenings were largely focused on passengers traveling from West Bengal. Many of the travelers from these regions land in certain airports in Thailand, mainly the Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and Phuket airports.
Reports from local Thai media say that the measures at airports include that travelers from ‘risk areas’ have to complete a health declaration before arriving and must present a medical certificate that declares they are okay to fly.
There will also be aircraft sanitation inspections after every flight from areas flagged for an outbreak. If a suspected case of infection is found, the aircraft must be disinfected before the next flight takes off.
There are designated parking bays for aircraft that are arriving from areas where cases of the Nipah virus have been reported. These aircraft will also have a designated screening area, isolation rooms, and different protocols in place for baggage handling.
Health officials from Thailand are ‘fairly confident’ that they will be able ton prevent an outbreak in their country. Thailand’s public health minister Phatthana Phromphat has made a statement which said, “If there’s a suspected case at an airport, the person will be quarantined and the results of a relevant test will be known in eight hours.”
He also stated that the transmission of the virus is different from Covid-19. He said, “The transmission of Nipah virus is not like that of Covid. Even though they may be asymptomatic, Covid-infected people can transmit the virus.
“For Nipah, infected people will not transmit it as long as they do not have any symptoms,” he ended.
It is positive to see authorities being confident about the spread of the disease and its containment. Share this with others to give them more information about the Nipah virus.
READ MORE
