TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control on Thursday listed Nipah virus infection as a highest-level reportable disease, requiring doctors to report suspected cases within 24 hours.

CNA reported that the listing is part of efforts to strengthen disease monitoring and preparedness. Health authorities said patients who meet reporting rules must be isolated and treated quickly, preferably in special rooms designed to prevent the spread of germs.

Medical staff are required to follow strict safety steps, including measures to prevent the spread through contact, droplets, and the air. Suspected cases must be tested, with samples such as nose swabs, throat swabs, or fluid from the brain and spine sent to the CDC for analysis.

The CDC said Taiwan has not recorded any confirmed human or animal cases of Nipah virus to date. Officials added that the new classification will improve early detection, speed up response measures, and ensure resources can be used quickly if a case is found, per Economic Daily News.

Nipah virus is a disease that can spread from animals to humans through direct contact with infected pigs, contaminated food, or close contact with infected people. The virus is also linked to fruit bats, which can contaminate food such as raw palm sap or fruit with saliva or urine, per Liberty Times.

Globally, outbreaks have occurred in several countries since 1998, including Malaysia, Singapore, Bangladesh, India, and the Philippines. The disease has a fatality rate of about 40% to 75%, and there are no approved vaccines or specific treatments.

Business Today reported that Nipah virus infection ranges from mild or no symptoms to severe illness, beginning with fever, headache, and muscle pain and possibly progressing to encephalitis. It spreads through infected animals, contaminated food, and limited human contact, with authorities advising avoidance of raw or potentially contaminated foods and animal exposure in affected areas.

The CDC said Taiwan has had the ability to test for Nipah virus since 2000 and has listed it as a key monitored disease since 2018. The new designation aims to raise public awareness and strengthen Taiwan’s ability to respond to potential cross-border health threats, per Yahoo News.