Nipah Virus: Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan Issues Urgent Statement

The Ministry of Health has reported that no cases of Nipah virus infection have been registered in the country. Currently, the epidemiological situation remains stable and under control. Nevertheless, due to the epidemiological situation in India, sanitary and quarantine controls have been strengthened at all border checkpoints, according to the Ministry.

Special attention is being paid to individuals arriving from India and other Southeast Asian countries where cases of the disease have been documented. The list of countries unfavorable for this infection is reviewed and updated on a regular basis. Medical organizations have been put on high alert for the potential importation of the virus. Emergency medical teams and infectious disease hospitals are fully prepared, with "non-reducible" reserves of medicines, personal protective equipment (PPE), and disinfectants secured.

The Ministry noted that the Nipah virus is a zoonotic infection, meaning it is transmitted to humans from animals (including fruit bats and pigs), as well as through close contact with an infected person. It can also spread via contaminated food and beverages. The illness may be accompanied by high fever, headache, general weakness, and in severe cases, central nervous system damage and the development of pneumonia.

To date, there is no specific treatment or approved vaccine for the Nipah virus. Medical assistance is purely symptomatic.

The Ministry also recommends that citizens planning to travel to endemic countries observe personal preventive measures. Upon returning to the country, should any symptoms of the disease appear, individuals are urged to seek medical help immediately and inform the physician about the country they visited.

Previously, an outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus was reported in India. Five cases of infection were identified in the state of West Bengal.