Alexander Gintsburg, the scientific supervisor of the Russian National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, reported that the Nipah virus causes symptoms similar to acute respiratory illnesses and often leads to serious complications.
This came in statements by Gintsburg to the Novosti news agency, where he said: "The symptoms are similar to any virus that is primarily transmitted through airborne droplets, as I understand it, the symptoms of acute respiratory illnesses. In addition, it often leads to complications, yes, as far as I know, complications similar to meningitis."
The Russian expert added that any virus that causes a decrease in immunity - and this is a general law in virology - can be followed by a bacterial or pulmonary infection depending on the strength of the immune system of the infected person, and pointed out that the natural carriers of the virus are bats.
Gintsburg concluded, "It's also spreading from person to person, as far as I know. So far, not very strongly, but it is spreading, like the H5N1 bird flu virus."
The Independent previously reported that Indian authorities were trying to contain an outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus, which had infected five people, with nearly 100 others placed in quarantine. The World Health Organization classifies this virus as one of the most dangerous in the world, for which there is currently no treatment or vaccine.
For its part, the Russian consumer protection agency reported that it is monitoring the situation regarding the Nipah virus outbreak in India, confirming that no cases of the disease being imported into Russia have been recorded.
The agency also noted that the Russian Federation has a sufficient number of test kits for timely laboratory diagnosis of the virus, and that the automated information system "Perimeter" is operating at border crossing points to immediately detect any suspected cases in order to prevent an outbreak.
Source: RT
