Cambodia Issues Preventive Guidelines Against Nipah Virus Threat

The Cambodian Ministry of Health has recently released new public guidelines to strengthen prevention against the Nipah virus (NiV), a rare but potentially fatal zoonosis transmitted by fruit bats and certain livestock animals.

Although no human cases have been detected in the country to date, the discovery of the virus among local bat populations has prompted authorities to adopt heightened preventive measures.

First identified in 1999 during outbreaks in Malaysia and Singapore, Nipah virus belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family, genus Henipavirus. According to the World Health Organization, its fatality rate ranges from 40% to 70%, depending on the quality of medical care and the speed of diagnosis. Since its discovery, the virus has caused recurrent outbreaks in Bangladesh and northeastern India, where human-to-human transmission is now well documented.

NiV is primarily transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected animals—particularly fruit bats (Pteropus spp.) and pigs—or through the ingestion of contaminated food, such as fruit or date palm sap tainted by bat saliva or urine. Secondary human-to-human transmission can occur through close contact with the bodily secretions or biological fluids of an infected person.

Symptoms generally appear between 4 and 14 days after exposure. The illness usually begins with fever, severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and sore throat. In severe cases, patients may develop neurological complications such as acute encephalitis, seizures, mental confusion, or even paralysis. Death can occur within 24 to 48 hours after the onset of serious neurological symptoms. Survivors often experience long-term neurological aftereffects, including memory disorders or emotional instability.

In response to this threat, the Cambodian Ministry of Health advises citizens to:

• Avoid contact with bats and sick animals.

• Wear protective equipment (gloves, masks, and full-body clothing) when handling livestock.

• Wash fruits thoroughly and peel them before eating.

• Apply strict hygiene protocols in hospitals and during clinical sample collection.

Currently, there is no specific antiviral treatment or approved vaccine against Nipah virus. Prevention, rapid isolation of suspected cases, and supportive care remain the only effective strategies to limit its spread. Cambodian health authorities, in coordination with the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, continue epidemiological surveillance and community awareness campaigns to minimize potential emergence risks.