India and Bangladesh Designated as Key Quarantine Management Areas for 'Nipah Virus'

KDCA Requires Health Declarations From Travelers Returning From Affected Countries

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on the 12th that, following the occurrence of Nipah virus infection cases in India last month and additional cases in Bangladesh, it will designate these two countries as key quarantine management areas.

Nipah virus is mainly transmitted by consuming contaminated food or by contact with infected animals such as fruit bats and pigs. Human-to-human transmission is also possible through close contact with the bodily fluids of patients. In the early stages of infection, symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle pain appear, and the disease can progress to neurological symptoms such as dizziness, drowsiness, and decreased consciousness, and further worsen into a severe condition that can lead to death.

Previously, in September last year, the KDCA designated Nipah virus infection as a Class 1 nationally notifiable infectious disease. Although no cases have been reported domestically so far, the agency explained that, in light of the absence of vaccines and treatments, these countries are being designated as key quarantine management areas.

Accordingly, from today, all travelers entering Korea after visiting India or Bangladesh must report their health status through Q-CODE or a health declaration form. The Incheon Airport Quarantine Station plans to implement quarantine procedures more rigorously for entrants who have visited these countries.

The quarantine and surveillance system will also be strengthened, including sending text messages with precautions to incoming travelers and providing information on overseas travel history within medical institutions (DUR-ITS). Medical institutions must immediately report to the KDCA or the local public health center if a patient who has traveled to a country with Nipah virus infections and has a history of animal contact presents with suspected symptoms.

In India and Bangladesh, sporadic but ongoing Nipah virus infection cases have been reported over the years. From 2001 through last month, 72 people in India and 250 people in Bangladesh have died from Nipah virus infection.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and local authorities, this year’s patient in Bangladesh was confirmed to have Nipah virus infection after death at a medical institution. The patient had no recent travel history but was found to have consumed fresh date palm sap. Two patients in India are currently under treatment.

Im Seungkwan, Commissioner of the KDCA, said, "Nipah virus infections are occurring in a limited manner in India and Bangladesh, so the likelihood of domestic importation is not high. However, given the high fatality rate of the disease and the sharp increase in overseas travelers during the Lunar New Year holiday, caution is necessary," adding, "Travelers to these countries must strictly follow infection prevention guidelines."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.