No Nipah virus cases detected in Azerbaijan, Health Ministry confirms

Azerbaijan has not reported any cases of Nipah virus infection, the Ministry of Health confirmed in response to inquiries from local media. Authorities noted that the virus is not endemic to the country and currently poses no real threat to the population.

“The risk of local transmission is assessed as low, and the situation is being continuously monitored by the Ministry of Health,” officials said. Nipah virus is a zoonotic pathogen from the Paramyxoviridae family and can cause severe disease in humans. Infection typically occurs through consumption of fruit or fruit juices contaminated by bats, contact with infected animals—particularly pigs—or, in rare cases, airborne transmission from an infected person.

The incubation period generally ranges from 5 to 14 days, but can extend up to 45 days in some cases. Symptoms include high fever, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, impaired consciousness, encephalitis, seizures, and, in severe cases, coma. Currently, there is no specific treatment or vaccine for the virus, and care is primarily supportive.

In Azerbaijan, the likelihood of the disease spreading is minimal. Authorities stressed that the virus does not easily transmit from person to person, and infection would only occur if the virus were introduced from abroad. The Ministry of Health has strengthened sanitary and epidemiological controls at border checkpoints and maintains the capacity to conduct testing at Level 2 and Level 3 biosafety laboratories at the Centre for Control of Particularly Dangerous Infections.

Preventive measures recommended for the public include avoiding unwashed fruits that may be contaminated by bats, refraining from drinking unpasteurized fruit juices, and using personal protective equipment when in contact with suspected cases. Travellers returning from endemic areas are advised to monitor their health and seek prompt medical attention if symptoms arise.

At this stage, officials say there is no need for special public restrictions, and adherence to standard hygiene practices is sufficient. The disease remains under epidemiological surveillance, with authorities emphasising that there is currently no cause for alarm.

By Vugar Khalilov