Local officials in Bangladesh have reported two men have died from Nipah virus infections after consumeing raw date juice, which is a risk factor for contracting Nipah disease. Nipah virus cases in Bangladesh follow a seasonal pattern, from December through to May. Read more
Advice for travellers
Avoid drinking unprocessed palm juice. Fruit bats (flying foxes) are the natural hosts of Nipah virus, and females shed the virus when pregnant or lactating. The bats perch on the jars used for collecting juice from palm or date trees, leaving contaminated saliva and droppings in the jars. People are infected when they drink the raw juice, although it is also spread through person-to-person contact. Nipah generally occurs between December and April. Read more about Nipah virus.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.