Chinese health authorities have moved to reassure the public regarding the potential threat posed by a recent Nipah virus outbreak in India, stating that the risk to China remains limited. The National Disease Control and Prevention Administration confirmed Tuesday that no domestic cases have been detected and emphasized the country’s robust preparedness measures.
The current outbreak in India’s West Bengal state, which does not share a border with China, has resulted in at least five confirmed infections with approximately 100 close contacts under quarantine. The virus carries a concerning fatality rate ranging from 45 to 70 percent, according to health officials.
Chinese health experts explained that the Nipah virus primarily spreads through direct contact with infected animals, patients, or contaminated materials. They noted the pathogen has limited environmental survivability, resulting in low exposure risk for the general population. Despite the low overall risk assessment, authorities acknowledged the persistent threat of imported cases and are implementing enhanced precautionary measures.
The administration detailed comprehensive preparedness efforts including continuous monitoring of international outbreak situations, specialized personnel training, and strengthened response capabilities in border regions. China has developed and stockpiled nucleic acid testing technologies for Nipah virus detection, with all provincial-level disease control centers equipped to perform targeted laboratory testing.
In a significant development, Chinese researchers announced that a domestically developed antiviral drug originally approved for COVID-19 treatment has demonstrated substantial antiviral activity against the Nipah virus. The drug, known as VV116, was characterized as “a very promising oral candidate” for treatment by research teams from the Wuhan Institute of Virology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, and Vigonvita Life Science. These findings were published in November in the international journal Emerging Microbes & Infections.
Health authorities advised travelers to affected regions to maintain heightened precautions and strict personal hygiene practices given the absence of approved therapeutics or vaccines specifically targeting the Nipah virus.