Kathmandu, February 3 — Nepal has not recorded any case of Nipah virus infection, but the government has placed the country on high public health alert following confirmed cases in neighbouring India, the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) said on Monday.
In a press statement, the Ministry said preparedness and precautionary measures have been intensified nationwide. All hospitals and health institutions have been instructed to remain vigilant, while systems have been activated for the identification, collection, safe transportation, and laboratory testing of samples from suspected patients.
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The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) has alerted health facilities across the country and prepared an interim testing algorithm for Nipah virus, despite the World Health Organization (WHO) assessing the global and South-East Asia regional public health risk as low.
Health officials said the virus can spread through fruits contaminated by the saliva, urine, or faeces of fruit bats, as well as through close contact with infected individuals via bodily fluids. Transmission from bats to humans through pigs has also been documented in past outbreaks.
The Ministry has urged the public to follow basic health and food safety practices, including washing fruits thoroughly, cooking food properly, drinking safe water, maintaining hygiene in animal sheds, using protective gear while handling meat, practising regular handwashing, and wearing masks in crowded places.
Authorities have stressed the importance of early identification and isolation of patients showing symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, cough, breathing difficulty, nausea, vomiting, and, in severe cases, loss of consciousness. People experiencing such symptoms have been advised to seek immediate medical attention or contact the health hotline 1115.
Reiterating that no Nipah cases have been confirmed in Nepal, the Ministry urged the public not to panic but to remain alert and cautious, warning against misinformation and encouraging reliance on official sources.
Nepal’s heightened vigilance follows confirmed cases in India’s West Bengal state, where authorities have said the outbreak has been contained. In response, surveillance has been strengthened at key border points with India, with health desks activated, staff trained, and isolation facilities kept ready as a precaution.
The Ministry said Nepal’s National Public Health Laboratory is prepared to conduct real-time PCR testing for suspected cases under strict biosafety conditions. Health officials stressed that while Nepal remains safe, continued vigilance, hygiene, and responsible behaviour are essential to prevent any potential outbreak.
