Situation Report: Bangladesh Reports More Cases of Nipah Virus

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Bangladesh Reports 10 Cases of Nipah Virus Infection

As of February 6, 2023, the Bangladesh Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research has reported 10 cases of Nipah virus (NiV) this year, 7 of them fatal. While there are outbreaks of Nipah in Bangladesh nearly every year, the current case count is the highest it has been since 2015. Six districts have reported cases so far.

How Nipah Virus Spreads

Fruit bats are the primary host of Nipah virus, and humans can be infected when they come into direct contact with an infected animal or its bodily fluids. In Bangladesh, consumption of fallen fruit or raw date palm sap that is contaminated with fruit bat saliva or urine is a common pathway of transmission. Travelers to affected regions should not consume these items. Nipah virus can also be transmitted person to person, most often through respiratory secretions.

Health Care Preparation and Response

While there are no suspected cases of Nipah virus in the United States, health care facilities should review their special pathogens preparedness plans and be ready to implement the identify, isolate, and inform strategy if a patient presents with symptoms consistent with NiV and has recently traveled from Bangladesh.

For health care agencies that need support, NETEC offers free training, resources, and consultation to ensure that clinicians can safely and effectively care for patients infected with high consequence pathogens like Nipah virus. Read more about Nipah virus on the NETEC blog.