Overall risk of Nipah outbreak in Pakistan remains low, NIH informs high-level meeting

Pakistan has increased its level of preparedness against the Nipah virus, with representatives of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) telling a high-level meeting on Thursday that while the chances of an outbreak were low, they could not be completely ruled out because of the presence of animal reservoirs.

The federal government on Wednesday directed strict and enhanced health surveillance at all entry points of the country in the wake of regional alerts about the Nipah virus, a highly lethal zoonotic virus.

In an advisory issued by the health ministry's Border Health Services, the government referred to reports of suspected cases of the Nipah virus in the Indian state of West Bengal and the virus's potential for cross-border transmission.

Director General (DG) Health Dr Abdul Wali Khan, confirmed that a high-level meeting on preventive and preparedness measures was held today at the Ministry of National Health Services.

DG Khan told that the meeting was held on the directions of Health Minister Mustafa Kamal to review the national level of preparedness and ensure that response mechanisms are in place. 

DG Khan further added that NIH representatives also assured them that the risk of an outbreak was low, but could not be completely eliminated in view of the presence of animal populations in the area.

He further added that they also confirmed that Pakistan had sufficient laboratory capacity and kits to test suspected cases, but that no proven vaccine or specific antiviral drug was available for the treatment of the disease.

DG Khan said that Health Secretary Mr. Hamed Yaqoob Shaikh informed the forum that although no cases of Nipah virus had been found in Pakistan in humans or animals so far, the ecological conditions prevalent in the neighboring countries made it necessary to remain vigilant and prepared.

He added that the preparedness of the health sector institutions at the federal level, surveillance systems, Border Health Services, and major hospitals in the federal capital were also reviewed by the officials.

DG Khan said that he personally told the participants of the meeting that Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus, and that its natural reservoirs are fruit bats and pigs, and that the reported human outbreaks had so far been restricted to certain parts of Asia, starting from Malaysia in 1999.