A major holiday destination popular with Brit tourists has ramped up screening tests at its borders and seaports in a bid to curb the outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus
A tourist destination popular with British holiday makers has implemented remote temperature checks for all passengers arriving at border gates to prevent the outbreak of a deadly virus.
Vietnam has become the latest country to tighten its borders security and screening methods due to the outbreak of the devestating Nipah virus. The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has announced emergency measures across the country in the form of surveillance monitoring at international entry points of Vietnam.
These entry points include airports such as Tan Son Nhat International Airport, popular amongst tourists entering the country, and various seaports. Passengers arriving or transiting through regions currently experiencing Nipah outbreaks and displaying possible symptoms will undergo immediate, detailed epidemiological assessments. And if necessary these passengers will be isolated.
The move places Vietnam amongst numerous countries across Asia which have taken emergency screening measures against the virus including Pakistan, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia.
Currently Vietnam has not recorded cases of Nipah virus but despite this the Ministry of Health has advised the public to remain vigilant to stop a potential outbreak. The Health Ministry has specifically warned the general public against consuming fruit which shows signs of being bitten by various animals.
Warning against eating foods and fruits which look like they may have been bitten by bats and birds, the ministry also cautioned against drinking raw palm sap or fresh coconut sap.
With a mortality rate 75 times more deadly than COVID, the virus is one of the 260 known viruses with epidemic potential. After an outbreak of Nipah virus in India’s eastern state of West Bengal, a number of countries across Asia have reintroduced COVID styled screening at borders and at airports, fearing the virus could trigger the next global pandemic.
The increased safety measures come after experts scrambled to find a vaccine to the virus last December as they launched the world’s first Nipah virus vaccine trial. The World Health Organisation has also commented on the outbreak of the Nipah virus.
Previously speaking on India’s ability to manage the virus the organisation said: “India has demonstrated its capacity to manage Nipah outbreaks during previous events and recommended public health measures are being implemented jointly by national and state health teams.
“At this time, there is no evidence of increased human-to-human transmission.
“However, the national, regional, and global risk remains low. Historically, Nipah outbreaks in the WHO South-East Asia Region have been limited to Bangladesh and India, occurring sporadically or in small clusters. Human-to-human transmission is rare and usually confined to health-care settings or close family contacts.
“There have been no known instances of international spread through travel.” WHO continues to work closely with national and state health authorities in India to support risk assessment, surveillance, and outbreak response efforts.”