Summary: China adds Nipah virus to border health checks. This zoonotic virus, with high mortality and no cure, spreads via bats/pigs and human contact. No cases in China yet; new law enables quarantine. Public advised to avoid bats, contaminated food/water.
China Adds Nipah Virus to Entry-Exit Health Inspection List
File photo from 科技日报: In September 2023, a healthcare worker in protective gear handles waste at a Nipah virus isolation center in Kerala, India.
On January 26, "Nipah Virus" became a trending topic on China's social media platform Weibo, sparking widespread concern.
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What Is Nipah Virus?
Nipah virus (NiV) is a deadly zoonotic virus, meaning it can be transmitted between animals and humans. Recently, the eastern Indian state of West Bengal reported five confirmed human cases, including a healthcare worker. One patient remains in critical condition, and nearly 100 individuals have been placed under home quarantine.
First identified in Malaysia in 1998 during an outbreak among pig farmers, the virus has since been a growing global concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies Nipah virus as a high-risk pathogen capable of causing severe respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. Symptoms include fever, headache, drowsiness, disorientation, and in some cases, coma. The mortality rate can exceed 40%. Currently, there is no specific treatment or vaccine available, and the incubation period ranges from 4 to 14 days, extending up to 45 days in some cases.
Photo from Wikipedia
How Is Nipah Virus Transmitted?
1. Animal-to-Human Transmission:
Fruit bats, the natural reservoir of Nipah virus, can contaminate fruits or water sources with their saliva, urine, or feces. Consuming contaminated food or water can lead to human infection. Livestock, such as pigs, can act as intermediate hosts after exposure to contaminated feed or droppings.
2. Human-to-Human Transmission:
Though less efficient, human-to-human transmission can occur through close contact with infected individuals, particularly their bodily fluids. Healthcare workers and family members are at higher risk during prolonged, unprotected exposure.
China's Preventive Measures
As of now, no Nipah virus cases have been reported in China. However, the government has proactively included the virus in its national entry-exit quarantine monitoring list under the newly revised "Frontier Health and Quarantine Law of the People's Republic of China" (effective 2025). This list also includes COVID-19 and HIV.
The law mandates that customs officials must take immediate containment measures if a traveler is suspected of carrying a quarantinable infectious disease. Disease control departments are then responsible for transporting and isolating the individual at designated medical facilities.
How to Stay Safe
While the risk in China remains low, citizens are encouraged to follow precautionary steps:
Avoid contact with bats—especially fruit bats—and do not consume potentially contaminated fruits or water.
Maintain livestock hygiene by disinfecting pig farms and preventing bat droppings from contaminating feed.
Use protective gear (gloves, masks, gowns) when handling materials that may carry the virus.
Seek immediate medical attention if experiencing symptoms after potential exposure.
Source: 广东科普
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