Health reform advocate Dr. Anthony Leachon urged “guarded optimism with a sense of urgency” on the Nipah virus, warning against complacency even as health authorities say the Philippines is prepared.

“We can’t declare victory too soon or be complacent,” Leachon told the DAILY TRIBUNE’s digital show Usapang OFW. “Though the disease is rare and unique, the possibility remains, especially since our borders are porous and people travel.”

Nipah is a zoonotic virus transmitted from animals to humans and, in some cases, between people through close contact and bodily fluids. 

He explained that while it has a relatively low transmission rate, it has a high fatality rate when it affects the brain, with mortality ranging from 45 percent to 75 percent in severe encephalitis cases. 

Symptoms start as flu-like illness but can progress to intense headache, confusion and other neurological signs. There is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment.

“If we dismiss the risk and turn a blind eye, that’s when the disease can slip in,” he said, rejecting claims by the Department of Health that public concern reflects post-pandemic trauma. “There is nothing wrong with being careful.”

Leachon urged the public to rely on credible sources such as the World Health Organization and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for updates. “As long as there are cases in other countries and no vaccine, we must stay vigilant,” he said.