Australia urged to ‘plan and prepare’ for Nipah virus amid outbreak of ‘terrible disease’

Australia must apply lessons from Covid‑19 to stay ahead of a potential Nipah virus outbreak, one of the country’s leading infectious disease experts warns. Professor Allen Cheng is calling for planning, monitoring of potential incoming cases, and being ready to act if the disease reaches the country.

As of early February, the World Health Organisation believes the risk of international spread is low, and so far, no cases of an outbreak in India have been reported outside the country, after two confirmed cases were detected in West Bengal late last month.

However, several Asian countries have tightened airport health screening for travellers as a precaution, and Australian health officials are closely watching the situation.

Yahoo News has contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for an update on its advice.

Cheng, Professor of Infectious Diseases at Monash University, said that while the disease is different from Covid, the principles are the same.

“We need to plan and prepare so that we know what is happening, monitor for cases that might arrive in Australia, and know what to do if a case is detected,” he told Yahoo News Australia.

“We need to be alert for cases, particularly in travellers to countries where it is present.”

Professor Cheng said the risk of spread in Australia is low, but if the Nipah virus were to reach Australia, the consequences wouldn’t be pretty.

That’s because there are currently no vaccines to treat it.

“There was an early-stage study of a treatment published in Australia in 2020, but it is still a long way before later stage studies to test whether it works,” Professor Cheng said.

He described Nipah as a “terrible disease,” noting that roughly half of those who develop severe infection die from it.

The symptoms can vary in severity, and Nipah can cause pneumonia, just like Covid-19.

“It can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), which is severe and associated with significant mortality,” Professor Cheng added.

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How is the Nipah virus transmitted?

There are three ways it’s transmitted.

By direct contact with infected animals, particularly bats and pigs, through contaminated food, such as date palm sap, which can get contaminated with secretions, and from human to human.

“In South Asia, contaminated food is thought to be a major way it is transmitted,” Professor Cheng said.

“While the fruit bats that carry the Nipah virus are present in Australia, infected bats are not known to be present here.

“However, a closely related virus, the Hendra virus, is present in bats, and infections with this virus have occurred in horses and humans in Australia.”

Professor Cheng said while Nipah virus isn’t formally tracked in Australia, doctors remain alert to the infection in returned travellers.

Any suspected cases would be managed with public health units, and with only a few specialised laboratories able to diagnose it, authorities would be notified of positive tests quickly.

This means the virus isn’t routinely reported nationwide, but systems are in place to respond rapidly if a case does appear.

“I’d probably suggest avoiding foods that have been implicated in transmission (date palm sap drinks), making sure fruit and vegetables are washed, peeled and/or cooked and avoiding contact with bats and wild animals,” Professor Cheng said.

“But in general, I’d be more concerned about more common infections in travellers, such as malaria, typhoid and dengue — and would suggest travellers should see their GP before they go.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told Yahoo News that Australians travelling across Asia are encouraged to read Smartraveller’s advice on infectious diseases.

“We recommend they subscribe to the travel advice for each destination they plan to visit, as well as, Smartraveller news updates and social media to stay up to date and receive the latest information for their travel.”

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