The Nipah virus, a deadly pathogen with a fatality rate of up to 75% and no available vaccine, is set to be classified as a Class 1 infectious disease in South Korea. This marks the first addition to the highest-risk category in five years, following the emergence of COVID-19 in 2020.
During a recent Infectious Disease Management Committee meeting, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reportedly approved the designation of Nipah virus infection as a Class 1 infectious disease. This new classification will take effect early in July, pending discussions with relevant authorities. Reporting, isolation, and contact tracking are now required when an infected individual is identified, as the Nipah virus, previously categorized as a non-statutory infectious disease, is now subject to legal management.
Class 1 infectious diseases require the most stringent responses under the current Infectious Disease Prevention Act, which divides infectious diseases into four categories based on risk, transmissibility, and mortality rate. Currently, 17 diseases, including the Ebola virus, anthrax, plague, SARS, and MERS, are classified as Class 1. If the Nipah virus is included, there will be 18.
Both humans and animals can contract the zoonotic infectious disease known as the Nipah virus. Symptoms of the Nipah virus include a high fever and headache for 3 to 14 days, followed by neurological symptoms such as confusion, dizziness, and lethargy. The incubation period is estimated to be 5 to 14 days. Severe cases can lead to seizures, encephalitis, and coma within 24 to 48 hours. Currently, no vaccine prevents it, and antiviral medications are the only treatment for its symptoms.
Bats are the primary host of the virus. It was initially mislabeled as “swine fever” because pigs spread it, but it was eventually determined that bats were the infection’s primary source. As bats’ habitats shrank due to the destruction of tropical rainforests, they migrated to fruit trees near pig farms. It is estimated that the bats’ bodily fluids were transmitted to pigs and humans during this time through contaminated fruit. Date palm trees, common in Southeast Asia, are specifically recognized as a vector for the virus.
In 1998, the Nipah virus initially surfaced in Malaysia’s Nipah region. Over 100 people perished in Malaysia in a single year at that time, and it has since spread to Bangladesh, India, Cambodia, and other places, killing over 220 people to date. The WHO has categorized it as a high-risk infectious disease that requires attention because there are no effective treatment options, and the fatality rate can reach up to 75% depending on the outbreak area or patient group.
Infection cases have not yet been reported in Korea. However, several factors, including the high fatality rate, lack of effective treatments, and the rise in overseas occurrences, have consistently increased the need for quarantine management. According to experts, it is impossible to completely rule out the possibility of domestic inflow, particularly given the active international travel brought on by air traffic and trade.
Medical facilities must notify quarantine authorities immediately if a Class 1 infectious disease is declared, as confirmed cases will be placed under immediate quarantine. Furthermore, health authorities can implement comprehensive quarantine measures, including contact tracing and community exposure blocking. This is considered a preventative measure to prevent the spread of a widespread pandemic such as COVID-19.
Although there haven’t been any domestic cases, the surveillance and response system must be strengthened because an epidemic could break out in nearby nations. Working with the medical community to develop an early diagnosis, isolation, and contact management system appears essential.
The Nipah virus is not confined to a single local infection or incident. Being a zoonotic infectious disease, it has a direct connection to ecosystem destruction, climate change, and the structure of the animal industry. There is currently no vaccine or treatment, the transmission route is unclear, and the fatality rate is high. After COVID-19, the possibility of another infectious disease crisis is slowly drawing near.
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