Saint Lucia has tightened its public‑health surveillance as global health agencies track two confirmed cases of the Nipah virus in Kolkata, India.
The virus, detected on January 13, has caused deadly outbreaks in parts of Asia but has never been recorded in humans outside the region. International assessments still place the Caribbean’s risk as low.
Nipah is carried by fruit bats and was first identified in 1999 among pig farmers in Malaysia and Singapore. Transmission has been linked to infected animals, contaminated fruit, and close contact between people. Past outbreaks have shown fatality rates ranging from 40 to 75%. There is no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment.
Testing for the virus is not available in Saint Lucia; samples would be sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency’s reference lab if required.
Officials say global travel patterns remain a factor, noting that the United States and the United Kingdom, Saint Lucia’s main tourism markets, are among the top destinations for travellers from India.
Surveillance at ports and health facilities has been increased, with additional coordination across agriculture, veterinary, and health education sectors. Infection‑control measures are being reinforced, and protocols for early detection and isolation are under review.
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