Malaysian Nipah Virus Potential To Become A New Pandemic

JAKARTA - Asian countries have been warned of a new pandemic from the Malaysian Nipah virus. This warning has been issued even though the Covid-19 pandemic is still ongoing. The Nipah virus is claimed to result in a higher number of deaths.

This virus is known to have started to become an epidemic in 1999 in Malaysia. Nipah virus originates from bats such as SARS-CoV-2. For 20 years, this virus has attacked Malaysia, Singapore, northern Australia, and India.

According to an epidemiologist from Griffith University, Dicky Budiman, once the Nipah virus is transmitted in one population it can consume three-quarters of the population.

"The death rate can be up to 75 percent, which makes him also become a pandemic, then he is easily and quickly transmitted. That means three out of four infected people can die, that's very high,” said Dicky as quoted by CNN Indonesia, Wednesday, January 27.

The Nipah virus must be watched carefully because it has various clinical symptoms. Among the clinical symptoms caused by the Nipah virus are respiratory problems to inflammation of the brain.

The percentage of deaths caused by the Nipah virus can reach 40 percent to 75 percent. Until now, researchers have not found a vaccine for the Nipah virus.

The main concern is the readiness of the government in handling cases like this, including strengthening the existing health systems and facilities in the country. Dicky added that the government must be prepared to face a death rate that is many times higher.

"Of course if we are not ready our health system will have more cases of death. Because it could double or triple the number of deaths," he added.

Dicky also touched on the cause of the emergence of new viruses as a result of human behavior that is not in harmony with the harmony of nature. He revealed the importance of preserving sustainability in order to avoid the transmission of the virus from animals to humans.

"We are currently entering a pandemic era. With human behavior that disregards the balance of nature, with forest clearing with other disharmonious behavior makes the world even more vulnerable. Climate change has only worsened the situation,” said Dicky.

According to him, forest destruction and global warming are one of the main factors in transmitting the virus from animals to humans, namely environmental destruction, such as deforestation and global warming.