An outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus has seen some countries tighten their borders, and warnings issued to travellers.
The virus can be spread from animals, including bats and pigs, to humans. The virus can also spread between humans through bodily fluids.
While the World Health Organization says the risk of human-to-human transmission remains low, countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore have introduced new screening and testing measures as a precaution.
The outbreak has prompted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to update its travel advice for Kiwis heading to India.
Asked whether there was concern the virus could spread to New Zealand, University of Otago professor and evolutionary virologist Jemma Geoghegan told Breakfast there was "low risk" of an outbreak here.
“This virus is sort of a natural virus for fruit bats, but it does spread over to humans, and it can spill over in several ways," she said.
“Humans can have direct contact with bats, for example, their faeces, urine and saliva from bats, (humans) can be infected with that."
Geoghegan explained that the most common way the virus spread to humans was through raw date palm sap.
Human-to-human infection was “not very efficient”, however.
“You have to have really direct contact with people who are infected. Being infected with their bodily fluids, for example.
“That is quite rare. And so outside of the countries where there have been reported cases, it is extremely low risk for us to be infected in New Zealand.”
She expected the risk to remain low in areas outside those that have experienced infections.
Symptoms of Nipah virus included fever, seizures, difficulty breathing, falling unconscious, severe headaches, being unable to move a limb, jerky movements, and personality changes, such as suddenly behaving oddly or psychosis.
It can cause encephalitis, inflammation of the brain, which is why the fatality rate is so high.
There was no treatment for the virus, but development for one is underway in Australia.
Geoghegan recommended that those travelling to infected areas avoid interacting with bats and consuming date palm sap products.
"That’s a major way of getting infected – not just with Nipah virus, but we know bats harbour many different viruses.”
MFAT offered similar advice on its Safetravel website.
It said people living in or travelling to a location where there had been an outbreak should:
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or a hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol content.
- Avoid contact with flying fox bats or sick pigs.
- Avoid areas where bats roost and avoid touching anything that could be soiled by bats.
- Avoid eating raw date palm sap or fruit that could be soiled by bats.
- Avoid contact with the blood or body fluids of someone with Nipah.
- Eat food that is fully cooked and fruits that can be washed and peeled.
"If you have been to an area known to have an outbreak of Nipah virus and you are unwell, seek immediate medical advice and tell the doctors about your travel," the website said.
In a joint statement to 1News, the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand said they were monitoring the spread of the virus overseas.
The agencies said the National Public Health Service does not screen for the virus at the border, but there were "systems in place to ensure any traveller who arrives in New Zealand unwell is checked and managed appropriately to the situation".
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