Nelson Morales

DOH : Why Nipah virus outbreak is unlikely in Metro Manila

Article (news)

alaminos fruitbat

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

<p>The Department of Health on Wednesday said it is possible that the Nipah virus is already in Mindanao but is unlikely to cause an outbreak due to its low transmission rate.</p><p>“Malamang sa malamang nandito na ‘yan, lalo dun sa Mindanao. Ang tawag natin dun ay disease reservoir, ibig sabihin umiikot ‘yung virus doon sa mga hayop hindi sa mga tao,”  DOH spokesman Asec. Albert Domingo said in a DZMM interview.</p><p>“Kaya ‘yung paalala natin na huwag basta-basta lumalapit sa mga paniki, kabayo na may sakit kasi &#x27;yung kwento sa Sultan Kudarat, kumain sila ng laman ng kabayo.Importante rin ‘yung paalala na lutuin ng maigi ang lahat ng karne. Mas maganda kung aprubado at nanggaling sa [National Meat Inspection Service].”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/10/09/20/whats-special-about-bat-viruses-what-we-dont-know-could-hurt-us">What&#x27;s special about bat viruses? What we don&#x27;t know could hurt us</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/multimedia/slideshow/03/23/21/photo-essay-by-catching-bats-these-virus-hunters-hope-to-stop-the-next-pandemic">PHOTO ESSAY: By catching bats, these &#x27;virus hunters&#x27; hope to stop the next pandemic</a></div><p>The DOH spokesman said it is unlikely that the Nipah virus can cause an outbreak in Metro Manila “kasi wala na tayong kagubatan sa paligid natin.”</p><p>While Nipah virus case fatality rate is high at 40 to 75 percent, it is also easy to contain unlike COVID-19 which is airborne, Domingo said.</p><p>According to the World Health Organization, the Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus which means it can be transmitted from animals to humans. The virus can be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people.</p><p>First recognized in 1999 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia, Nipah virus outbreaks have been reported in Bangladesh, eastern India, Cambodia, Ghana, Indonesia, Madagascar, Thailand and the Philippines. </p><p>Early symptoms of Nipah virus infection include fever, headache, sore throat, cough and difficulty breathing, which could worsen to encephalitis or swelling of the brain.</p><p>Fruit bats of the of the Pteropodidae family are the natural host of Nipah virus. There is no Nipah virus vaccine available for people or animals, WHO said.</p><p>In the interview, Domingo noted the Philippines already recorded a Nipah virus case in Sultan Kudarat in 2014, which was successfully contained.</p><p>In the latest outbreak, one person infected by Nipah virus in West Bengal, India died from the illness while spreading the infection to 2 doctors, 2 nurses and a healthcare worker in a private hospital. </p><p>A total of 100 people who were in close contact with the infected have been quarantined. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/1/26/what-is-the-nipah-virus-outbreak-in-india-and-why-is-it-taken-seriously-1751">What is the Nipah virus outbreak in India, and why is it taken seriously?</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/1/28/nipah-virus-india-says-only-2-cases-confirmed-as-fears-rise-1114">Nipah virus: India says only 2 cases confirmed as fears rise</a></div><p>“Ang pinaka-latest information natin mula sa India...yung 5 nag-positive sa Barasat sa West Bengal, India ay actually mga healthcare workers. Importante itong detalyeng ito kasi ito&#x27;y tinatawag na healthcare associated. Hindi nagmula sa isang paniki although doon nanggagaling dati noong 1998-1999,” Domingo told DZMM.</p><p>“Bakit ito nakaka-reassure? Kasi hindi sa labas nangyari...Huwag tayong matatakot, huwag mapa-praning.”</p><p>Domingo said Thailand immediately issued travel alerts and screened passengers because it has direct flights coming from the area where the first Nipah virus infection was reported.</p><p>In the Philippines, e-travel forms require passengers to divulge their countries of origin as well as transit points during their travel.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MzbyRWbrgi8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xDXaL6aEfQQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YU-0CqKdZHQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Department of Health on Wednesday said it is possible that the Nipah virus is already in Mindanao but is unlikely to cause an outbreak due to its low transmission rate.</p>

The Department of Health on Wednesday said it is possible that the Nipah virus is already in Mindanao but is unlikely to cause an outbreak due to its low transmission rate.