The Henipavirus infection or Nipah virus is deadier than the COVID-19 virus, but it is unlikely to develop into a pandemic, public health expert Tony Leachon said on Monday, September 25.
Interviewed during DZRH's Damdaming Bayan, he explained that the Nipah virus is more dangerous as it directly hits an individual's brain, leading to death.
"Ang reproduction number nito, hindi kasing bangis ng COVID. Ang paghawa ng COVID ay usually sa lungs, ito [Nipah] diretso sa brain," he said.
However, Leachon noted that there is a low chance that the virus to develop into a pandemic due to the low transmission rate.
"Hindi siya kumakalat dahil namamatay [yung na-infect ng Nipah virus] kasi wala pang bakuna. That makes it parang advantage dahil biglaang mamamatay, mataas ang mortality rate," he said.
Leachon said the mortality ranges from 40 to 70 percent.
Dr. Tony Leachon, Public Health Expert, sa Nipah Virus: Katulad din ng COVID. Ang difference lang, ang transmission rate nito ay hindi kasing bangis ng COVID.#DamdamingBayan#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) September 25, 2023
LIVE: https://t.co/1uFmoaGOaB pic.twitter.com/MoOHaDy6uq
According to the public health expert, the virus can be transmitted after exposure to "pigs and fruit bats."
He said a person who got infected by the Nipah virus may experience symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, and loss of consciousness.
Leachon recommended the wearing of face masks especially in crowded public areas.
"Kung hindi komportable that people around you ay di nagpapractice ng hygienic measure, kailangan nating gawin yun [wearing of face masks]," he said.
"In areas na tingin natin ay malinis at walang problema, hindi tayo nagma-mask. Ngayon dahil may Nipah virus, medyo maingat din tayo kailangan. Though wala pang reported cases," the public health expert added.
Last September 22, the Department of Health (DOH) reported that it has yet to detect new cases of Henipavirus infection or Nipah virus in the country.
In a statement, the DOH said there are no new cases since the Nipah virus was first tracked in the Municipality of Sultan Kudarat in Mindanao back in 2014.
