Is the Nipah Virus More Dangerous Than COVID-19?

What Is the Nipah Virus?

Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus, meaning it spreads from animals to humans. It is primarily carried by fruit bats and can also infect pigs. Humans become infected through close contact with infected animals, contaminated food, or bodily fluids of infected people.

Since its discovery in 1999, Nipah virus has caused multiple outbreaks, mainly in South and Southeast Asia.

Why Nipah Virus Is Considered Extremely Dangerous

One of the most frightening aspects of Nipah virus is its high fatality rate. Historically, outbreaks have shown death rates ranging from 40% to 75% among confirmed cases. Symptoms can progress rapidly from fever and headache to severe respiratory illness and brain inflammation (encephalitis).

Unlike COVID-19, there is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Nipah virus. Medical care is largely supportive, which increases the risk for severe outcomes.

How Nipah Virus Differs From COVID-19

While Nipah virus is deadlier on an individual level, it behaves very differently from COVID-19.

COVID-19 spreads easily through the air, allowing it to infect millions of people in a short time. Nipah virus, on the other hand, does not spread efficiently between humans. Transmission usually requires close physical contact with infected bodily fluids, making widespread outbreaks harder to sustain.

Because of this limited transmission, Nipah virus outbreaks have remained localized and controllable, unlike the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Current Risk Assessment

Health authorities, including global public health organizations, currently assess the risk of widespread Nipah transmission as low. Recent outbreaks have been contained through rapid surveillance, contact tracing, and isolation measures.

However, experts continue to monitor Nipah closely because of its high fatality rate and pandemic potential if it were ever to mutate into a more easily transmissible form.

So, Is Nipah Virus More Dangerous Than COVID-19?

It depends on how “dangerous” is defined:

• More deadly if infected? Yes — Nipah virus has a much higher fatality rate.

• More likely to cause a global pandemic? No — COVID-19 was far more contagious and disruptive worldwide.

In short, Nipah virus is deadlier, but COVID-19 was more dangerous on a global scale due to its ability to spread rapidly across populations.

Disclaimer: This update is shared based on publicly available information. VOTG News is not responsible for any decisions made based on this news. The image is AI-generated only for illustration