Russian health authorities are closely monitoring the Nipah virus outbreak in India, where five cases have been confirmed, including medical workers. The disease, which lacks a vaccine or treatment, carries a mortality rate ranging from 40% to 75%. As part of containment efforts, doctors have screened 180 individuals who had contact with infected persons and quarantined 20.
According to the Russian Academy of Sciences, Nipah virus is transmitted from animals such as bats and pigs to humans. Academician Alexander Ginzburg, an epidemiologist and member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, emphasized that there is no cure for the virus, and recovery depends on individual immune responses. He also highlighted the risk posed by active air travel between Russia and India.
Professor Alexey Agranovsky noted that Russia currently has no conditions for Nipah virus spread due to the absence of animal vectors in the country. He clarified that Nipah viruses are endemic to specific regions, a situation distinct from the coronavirus pandemic.
Academician Gennady Onishchenko advised Russians planning international travel to take precautions without causing unnecessary panic. He stressed the importance of regular hand washing and careful food handling in preventing infections.
The Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor) confirmed that there are no imported cases of Nipah virus in Russia. “The situation is under control,” the ministry stated, adding that Russia has sufficient diagnostic test systems and automated border checkpoints to identify potential infections.
