The Minister explained that bats transmit the virus to pigs and that it can also infect humans. He noted that the disease is highly contagious and the medical community is analyzing the potential risks.
“Researchers are studying this virus in laboratory conditions. There are no cases in Europe at the moment. The National Public Health Agency together with the World Health Organization have studied the situation. There is no need for alarm at the moment,” Ceban said.
The minister added that authorities are not quarantining students returning from vacations in Asia. He also said that no intervention protocols have been developed yet.
India has seen a new outbreak of Nipah virus, a rare but deadly infection for which there is no vaccine or specific treatment. The disease can be asymptomatic but in severe cases leads to brain inflammation, coma and death.
Nipah virus belongs to zoonotic infections: it is transmitted to humans from animals. The main carriers are considered bats and pigs. Infection is possible both through contact with animals or contaminated food and from person to person.
International media report that the disease has been known in Asia since 2001 and is spread through bodily fluids, initially causing cold-like symptoms and then potentially leading to encephalitis.
In January, the Nipah virus was identified in the Indian state of West Bengal – near Kolkata. The disease was confirmed in five people, three of whom were hospitalized.
In Thailand, where there are dozens of Moldovan tourists and hundreds of Ukrainian tourists arriving home via Chisinau, airports have started testing passengers from India for the Nipah virus.
