The vice-president of the Brazilian Society of Immunizations (SBIm), Renato Kfouri, stated, in an interview with CNN this Friday (15), that the control measures taken by Indian authorities have been effective in containing the Nipah virus, which killed two people in the state of Kerala.
“Person-to-person transmission is much more difficult. So, it is a virus that is worrying, but the combat measures have been sufficient to limit these cases in the region”, explained the doctor.
See also – India closes schools, offices to contain deadly virus
Nipah is a zoonotic virus transmitted from animals to humans, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It was first identified about 25 years ago, in the Southeast Asian region.
When asked, Kfouri declared that it was “unlikely” that the Nipah virus would spread through the respiratory tract – as observed in the viruses that cause Covid-19 and influenza, for example.
“Person-to-person transmission is much more difficult. It is not a predominantly respiratory transmission virus. This limits its ability to expand and disseminate”, highlighted Kfouri.
According to the expert, the risks of the virus reaching Brazil are small, since the bats that carry Nipah are not found in the country.
However, Kfouri warns: “We have to prepare for the next pandemics, for the next viruses that will come. And, certainly, investment in vaccines and medicines is the key to controlling future outbreaks.”
*Produced by Carol Raciunas, from CNN, in São Paulo
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m James Harper, a highly experienced and accomplished news writer for World Stock Market. I have been writing in the Politics section of the website for over five years, providing readers with up-to-date and insightful information about current events in politics. My work is widely read and respected by many industry professionals as well as laymen.
