Nipah virus infection disease will be designated as a level 1 infectious disease in the country. The zoonotic Nipah virus infection disease causes fever, headache, muscle pain, dizziness, and decreased consciousness. In severe cases, encephalitis and seizures may occur or it can lead to death. The fatality rate is 40-75%.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency noted that it will revise and implement the 'types of infectious diseases designated by the head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency' and 'diagnostic criteria for infectious disease reporting' on the 8th to add Nipah virus infection disease as a level 1 infectious disease.
Level 1 infectious diseases are the highest classification among statutory infectious diseases. It is the first time in five years that a new level 1 infectious disease has been designated since the novel coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) in 2020. COVID-19 was downgraded to level 2 in 2022 and to level 4 the following year.
The Nipah virus was first discovered in 1998 on a pig farm in Malaysia. Commonly, infection occurs through contact with infected animals such as fruit bats or pigs, or by consuming contaminated food. Close contact with the bodily fluids of patients can also enable human-to-human transmission.
Recently, many cases have emerged in Bangladesh and India. From 2021 to last year in Bangladesh, 343 cases occurred with 245 deaths. In India, 104 cases were reported from 2001 to last year, with 76 fatalities.
So far, there are no reported cases of patients infected with the Nipah virus in the country. As it is newly designated as a level 1 infectious disease, any future cases must be reported immediately, with isolation measures, contact management, and epidemiological investigations put in place.
There is no vaccine or treatment for Nipah virus infection disease. People should avoid contact with wild animals and should not consume contaminated food and drinks. Hands must be washed for more than 30 seconds with running water and soap. Lim Seung-kwan, head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said, "This is a proactive measure to prepare for the risk of the domestic influx of overseas infectious diseases" and added, "We will strengthen the domestic infectious disease management system."