Ministry: Cambodia has not yet seen a case of Nipah virus, urges vigilance
Ministry: Cambodia has not yet seen a case of Nipah virus, urges vigilance
#National
The Department of Infectious Disease Control of the Ministry of Health on January 24, 2026 states that, until now, Cambodia has never found a human case of Nipah Virus.
Nipah Virus is a serious and potentially fatal viral disease.
The Nipah Virus is spread by bats and rodents and can infect humans and pigs.
It can be transmitted from person to person through direct contact, through water, or through human bodily fluids.
The fatality rate for people infected with the disease is between 40%–70%.
Outbreaks of Nipah occur almost annually in parts of South Asia, most frequently in Bangladesh and India.
The virus has also been reported in Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore, most notably in Malaysia in 1999, where it sickened 300 people, including 100 deaths.
People can get Nipah Virus through direct contact with infected animals, such as bats, skunks, or pigs, or by consuming food or drinks, such as fruit or juice, that have been contaminated by infected animals.
The Ministry urges Cambodians to reduce the risk of infection by washing your hands regularly with soap and water, avoiding contact with sick bats, skunks, or pigs, and avoiding contact with the blood or body fluids of patients with Nipah Virus.
People with Nipah Virus usually become ill for 3 to 14 days with fever, headache, cough, sore throat, and difficulty breathing.
Later in the course of infection, some people may experience brain swelling or inflammation, which can be severe and include confusion, drowsiness, and seizures.
People with these symptoms may become unconscious within 24 to 48 hours.
Until now, Cambodia has never seen a human case of Nipah Virus, but the Department of Communicable Disease Control is constantly monitoring and preparing for any outbreaks.
For more information, please contact 115 or 012488981 toll-free.
-Khmer Times-
