Oman issues Nipah virus health advisory

Muscat: The Ministry of Health (MoH), has urged all citizens and residents who have travelled to Oman from the Nipah virus affected areas of India to visit the nearest health institution, if they experience symptoms related with the condition.
The Nipah virus is a newly emerging disease transmitted through fruit bats. The infections of the virus have several clinical symptoms including fever and acute respiratory syndrome that may develop into encephalitis.
“As for the Sultanate, the risk is in the travel movement from and to the affected areas. Therefore, the Ministry urges all people to avoid travelling to Kozhikode and Malappuram in Kerala, except in cases of extreme necessity. The Ministry also calls upon those coming from these areas to visit health institutions in case any symptoms associated with fever appear, within three weeks of their return,” the MoH said.
The Ministry also assures that the possibility of transmission of the disease through the fruits imported from India is very slight and nearly absent, noting the necessity to wash fruits before use it. Based on the current data and continued cooperation between the MoH, WHO and the Ministry of Health of India, the Directorate assessed the risk of spread of infection outside Kerala, according to the ministry.
They have prepared a guide on dealing with the suspected cases of the disease that has been circulated to all health institutions in the Sultanate.
It also provided the laboratory reagents using in diagnosing the disease.
The Ministry affirms that all citizens and residents must take the information from its official sources or contact the Ministry via the MOH Contact Center at (24441999) in case of any queries. The Ministry is continuously following-up and monitoring the epidemical situation of the disease.
Here's the advisory in full:
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