Kyrgyzstan has introduced temporary restrictions on the import of animals from India that are susceptible to the Nipah virus, as well as on certain animal-origin products.

The measures were imposed by the Health Ministry to ensure the country’s veterinary and sanitary safety, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Authorities have urged Kyrgyz citizens to refrain from purchasing livestock products of dubious origin and to carefully check the availability of proper veterinary documentation when buying animal products.

The restrictions follow the detection of a new outbreak of the Nipah virus in India, where emergency anti-epidemic measures have been introduced in the state of West Bengal. Local health authorities have confirmed five cases of infection, while around 100 people have been placed under quarantine.

The Nipah virus was named after a village in Malaysia, where it was first identified in 1998 at a pig farm. Its spread to neighboring Singapore at the time resulted in more than 100 deaths and caused major damage to the livestock sector. Since then, the virus has periodically resurfaced in the region. In Bangladesh, where cases have been recorded since 2001, the disease has claimed more than 100 lives. Outbreaks were also documented in India in 2001 and 2007, with West Bengal again emerging as the epicenter.

Nipah is a zoonotic viral infection that can cause severe respiratory illness and encephalitis. Its primary natural reservoirs are fruit bats. The virus can be transmitted to humans from animals-such as pigs or bats-as well as from person to person, including through contaminated food.

Because of its epidemic potential, the World Health Organization has included Nipah among the top 10 most dangerous diseases. The incubation period ranges from four days to two weeks, with symptoms including high fever, headaches, muscle and throat pain, vomiting, pneumonia, weakness, and confusion. In some cases, the disease may progress with minimal symptoms.

At present, there are no approved vaccines or specific treatments for Nipah virus infection. Health experts say the only effective preventive measures remain strict personal hygiene and avoiding travel to outbreak areas.

Earlier, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Health reported that no Nipah cases have been detected in the country so far, though medical services have been placed on high alert to respond to any potential importation of the virus.