The contentious Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) has come into focus again amid the response to the recent Nipah virus outbreak in India. Even though officials claim they have the situation under control, the Indian government is offering assistance to manage this new health threat.
Researchers at WIV have claimed They developed an oral antiviral, VV116, initially aimed at treating the Wuhan coronavirus, which they also describe as a potential treatment for the Nipah virus.
In their research, VV116 was tested on golden hamsters, showing an impressive increase of over 66 percent in survival rates against the Nipah virus. Furthermore, it significantly decreased viral loads in the lungs, spleen, and brain, helping protect these organs commonly affected by Nipah.
According to WIV, “This finding represents the first proof of VV116’s therapeutic potential against the Nipah virus.” They added that the drug could serve as both a preventive measure for high-risk groups, like healthcare workers, and as an accessible treatment option for current and future Nipah outbreaks.
Vigonvita Life Sciences, a Chinese pharmaceutical firm, has expressed optimism about the preliminary data and is preparing to initiate clinical trials—an important step towards bringing this drug to market. Currently, there isn’t an approved treatment for Nipah.
The Nipah virus is quite severe, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting a fatality rate of 40% to 70% globally.
The virus’s first identified outbreak was in 1998, and since then, Nipah cases have primarily occurred in regions across South and Southeast Asia, such as Bangladesh, the Philippines, Singapore, and India. The most significant outbreak took place in Bangladesh in 2001, claiming over 100 lives.
Initially, patients suffer from milder, flu-like symptoms such as fever, headaches, cough, vomiting, and sore throats.
However, the real danger lies in the development of brain and spinal cord inflammation, or encephalitis or meningitis, which can surface 3 to 21 days after the initial, less severe symptoms. The incubation period for Nipah generally ranges from 4 to 21 days, and individuals may spread the virus before the onset of severe symptoms. Even survivors may face lasting neurological issues.
Nipah is a zoonotic virus, which means it originates in animals and can transfer to humans. Fruit bats are the primary hosts, passing the virus to animals like pigs, goats, and sheep, which then pose a risk to humans through contaminated food products.
Person-to-person transmission primarily occurs via body fluids, making contact with an infected person particularly risky.
Indian authorities reported that since December, two Nipah cases were confirmed in West Bengal. The Ministry of Health stated that 196 people who had close contact with the infected individual were traced, isolated, and tested. Details about the quarantine status were not provided, but officials believe no new cases have emerged and the situation is manageable.
According to India’s Ministry of Health, “The situation is under continuous observation, and all essential public health measures are being implemented.”
The WHO noted that a Chinese state media outlet indicated the risk of further transmission in India remains “low,” and that no evidence has emerged to suggest heightened human-to-human spread.
“Given the known presence of Nipah virus reservoirs in bat populations across parts of India and Bangladesh, including West Bengal, there is a possibility of more exposure. It’s essential to enhance community education regarding the risks, especially concerning consumption of date palm sap,” WHO officials commented.
However, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Nepal have raised their levels of screening for air travelers from West Bengal. The Chinese State Administration for Disease Control and Prevention reported no cases detected within China and expects the overall impact of the outbreak in West Bengal on both India and China to be “relatively minor.”
