The threat of the onslaught of another dangerous virus called Nipah has started looming throughout Punjab including Lahore, it was learnt on Sunday.
In this regard, the Punjab Department of Health has issued a letter to all the provincial Chief Executive Officers (CEO) while issuing a high alert in view of the possible threat and spread of the Nipah virus and guidelines were also issued in the post.
According to the post of the health department, Nipah was declared as a dangerous virus, with a mortality rate of 74 percent. Nipah virus (NiV) infection is an emerging zoonosis that causes severe disease in both animals and humans and is endemic in South-East Asia Region. NiV was initially isolated and identified in 1999 in Malaysia and Singapore during an outbreak of encephalitis and respiratory illness among pig farmers and people with close contact with pigs. In May 2018, confirmed cases of Nipah virus (NiV) infection including fatalities have been reported in the southern state of Kerala, India.
