A woman in Bangladesh died on Friday after contracting the deadly Nipah virus in January, The World Health Organisation has confirmed.
The case follows an outbreak of Nipah virus cases identified in neighbouring India, which has already introduced Covid-era border controls.
The virus is a rare but serious infectious disease carried by bats that could kill up to 75 per cent of people infected, according to UK health chiefs.
The patient in northern Bangladesh – aged between 40 and 50 – developed a fever and neurological symptoms consistent with Nipah virus on 21 January, including headache, muscle cramps, loss of appetite and vomiting.
Her symptoms then escalated as she started to show signs of confusion, hypersalivation and convulsion – a condition in which muscles contract and relax quickly and cause uncontrolled shaking of the body.
On 27 January she became unconscious and was admitted to hospital where she died the next day.
The surveillance team collected throat swabs and blood samples which confirmed Nipah virus infection.
She had no travel history, but it was reported she repeatedly consumed raw date palm sap in the weeks leading up to her death – with most infections resulting from consuming fruits contaminated with the faeces or saliva of infected fruit bats.
The case in Bangladesh follows two Nipah virus cases identified in India which sparked pandemic concerns
The WHO says all 35 people who had been in contact with the patient are being monitored and have tested negative for the virus.
No further cases have been detected to date.
The announcement comes just over a week after two cases were confirmed in West Bengal State, in eastern India, as authorities work to contain the deadly virus they say remains largely under control.
The UK Health Security issued new guidance following the outbreak stating: ‘While the risk to most people remains very low, understanding the virus is important if you are planning to travel to areas where it circulates.’
It is estimated that between 40 and 75 per cent of people infected with the virus will die, with others being left with lasting neurological difficulties including persistent seizures and personality changes.
In rare cases, the virus can lay dormant and reactivate months or years after the initial infection.
Because of this, countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Pakistan have implemented temperature screenings at airports after India’s West Bengal region confirmed five cases of Nipah virus.
This is the first case since the outbreak to be reported outside of India, sparking fresh pandemic concerns.
Some parts of Asia have tightened screening measures at airports to control the spread
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But since 2001 more than 340 Nipah virus cases have been reported in Bangladesh – about half of which occurred among people with a history of drinking raw palm sap.
In a statement last week, WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus confirmed: ‘Authorities have increased disease surveillance and testing, implemented prevention and control measures in health care settings, and are keeping the public informed about how to protect themselves.’
Officials continue to watch the virus closely, as while there has not yet been any cases identified in the UK, there is no vaccine or treatment for infection.
