The National Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Armenia has provided information on a newly emerging virus.

“The disease caused by the Nipah virus is a newly emerging zoonosis (an infection common to humans and animals).

The main sources of infection are fruit bats and pigs.

Humans can become infected by consuming fruits or palm sap contaminated with saliva or excreta from fruit bats, as well as through contact with infected animals, particularly pigs, and raw animal products.

Human-to-human transmission is also possible through close contact with an infected person.

In recent years, outbreaks among humans have been reported in Malaysia, Bangladesh, and India.

Countries at high risk of virus spread include Cambodia, Ghana, Indonesia, Madagascar, the Philippines, and Thailand.

The incubation period usually lasts 4–14 days. The disease can manifest in different ways:

* asymptomatically;

* with symptoms typical of acute respiratory illness;

* with encephalitis;

* with various neurological disorders.

To prevent infection, it is recommended to:

* wash fruits thoroughly before consumption and avoid unpasteurized palm sap;

* consume only animal-derived foods that have undergone sufficient heat treatment;

* avoid close contact with sick individuals;

* maintain personal hygiene;

* use personal protective equipment when handling animals.

Considering that the main carriers of the virus — fruit bats — are not common in Armenia, the epidemiological risk of disease spread is low.”