Developing a roadmap to combat Nipah virus infection in the region
In 2017, Nipah virus (NiV) was declared as one of the World Health Organization’s top eight emerging pathogens. The NiV infection as a relatively newer emerging zoonosis was first identified during an outbreak of disease that occurred in Kampung Sungai Nipah, Malaysia in 1998. Since then outbreaks have occurred, causing human infections in Malaysia, Singapore, India and Bangladesh. In WHO’s South East Asia Region (SEAR), a geographically-distinct NiV strain has emerged independently in India as well as Bangladesh, causing human NiV cases.
WHO has since developed a comprehensive framework for combatting Nipah in the region and ensure availability of evidence-based guidance to Member States for effectively implementing them in the event of an outbreak. An expert consultation was organized by the Infectious Hazard Management (IHM) unit of the WHO’s Health Emergency Department on 15–16 October, 2019 in New Delhi. The aim of the meeting was to brainstorm and discuss the finalization of a roadmap to combat NiV infections.
The broad objectives of the consultation were:
- Appraise global and regional experience and good practices for their relevance in NiV prevention and control in SEAR.
- Advise the Regional Director on regional needs, priorities and gaps in combatting NiV
- Provide recommendations to develop a roadmap for combatting NiV in SEAR including, conducting priority research related to NiVs prior to, during and post Nipah outbreaks.
The meeting was attended by 24 experts from India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand, United States of America, United Kingdom. Also present were staff from the Health Emergency Department, Communicable Diseases and Surveillance (CDS) department in WHO’s Regional Office for SEAR, WHO’s HQs and the WHO Country Office for India. The following 10 thematic areas were taken up for discussion by experts who provided a comprehensive list of recommendations to enable SEARO develop a roadmap for combatting NiV for the SEAR.
- Understanding social and ecological factors and their need for control of Nipah virus diseases and responding to Nipah virus disease outbreaks.
- Policy, strategy and regulatory needs for Nipah virus disease control.
- Laboratory diagnosis of Nipah virus infections.
- Clinical diagnosis and management of Nipah patients
- Research and development related to NiV infections.
- Surveillance, alert, detection and responding to NiV disease outbreaks.
- Behavioural changes for modification and reduction of risks.
- Health systems capacity and readiness for detection and response to NiV outbreaks.
- One Health approach for control of NiV.
- Countermeasures (diagnosis, vaccines and therapeutics) needed for managing Nipah patients.