Nepal’s Ministry of Health has issued an alert urging citizens to remain vigilant against the possible spread of the Nipah virus following the confirmation of two cases in India. As part of its preparedness measures, the ministry has cautioned health facilities and relevant agencies across the country to strengthen surveillance and response mechanisms.
The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) said a Nipah virus tracking algorithm has been prepared in view of the outbreak reported in India. The alert comes after India’s Union Health Ministry confirmed that only two Nipah virus cases have been reported from December last year to date. Both cases involved nurses in Kolkata, West Bengal, whose health condition has improved and who have since tested negative for the virus.
Although the World Health Organisation has assessed the public health risk posed by the Nipah virus as low at both the global and South-East Asia regional levels, Nepal’s health authorities have emphasised the need for continued precautionary measures. The ministry said it remains fully committed to protecting public health and is taking all necessary steps to prevent any potential spread of the infection, while advising citizens not to panic.
The Health Ministry has advised the public to adopt strict hygiene and food safety practices, including thoroughly washing fruits before consumption, properly cooking vegetables, and drinking only pure and boiled water. Additional preventive measures include maintaining cleanliness in animal sheds and farms, wearing gloves and masks while handling meat, washing hands regularly with soap and water, and wearing masks in crowded places.
Citizens have been urged to seek immediate medical attention at the nearest health facility or contact the national health helpline at 1115 if they experience suspicious symptoms. The ministry also directed healthcare providers to ensure strict adherence to patient identification, isolation, reporting, and infection prevention and control protocols if symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, cough, breathing difficulties, dizziness, vomiting, or, in severe cases, loss of consciousness are observed.
Medical experts have warned that Nipah virus infection can occur through the consumption of fruit contaminated with saliva, urine, or faeces of infected bats. Human-to-human transmission is also possible through contact with blood, saliva, urine, or close interaction with an infected individual, as well as through pigs that have been exposed to bats carrying the virus.
