Deadly Nipah Virus Designated as Korea's First-Class Infectious Disease

 

Korean health authorities have designated Nipah virus as a first-class infectious disease due to its 75% fatality rate. Learn more about symptoms, risks, and preventive measures.

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In a recent announcement, South Korea’s Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) revealed that it will designate Nipah virus infection as a first-class legal infectious disease. This virus, which has no known vaccine or cure, has a fatality rate of up to 75%, making it one of the most lethal zoonotic diseases in the world.

The Nipah virus is primarily spread through fruit bats and can transmit to animals like pigs, eventually jumping to humans. Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct or bodily fluid contact. Symptoms appear after an incubation period of 5 to 14 days and include fever, headaches, vomiting, and even neurological complications such as encephalitis and confusion.

Although no cases have been reported in South Korea so far, infections have occurred mainly in India and Bangladesh. India has recorded 104 cases since 2001, with a recent case confirmed in a woman in her 40s. While the virus is not spreading rapidly like COVID-19, its high mortality rate has prompted Korean authorities to take precautionary action.

KDCA advises strict personal hygiene, avoiding contact with animals in outbreak regions, and not consuming raw date palm sap. Travelers returning from endemic areas should monitor symptoms and call the KDCA’s hotline (1339) if fever or other symptoms appear within 14 days.

As the Nipah virus becomes a first-class disease in Korea, the emphasis is on prevention and vigilance. Although not a pandemic threat at present, the potential for global transmission highlights the importance of early response and public awareness.