Simran Siraj

KARACHI: Infectious disease experts at Aga Khan University Hospital have reassured the public that the Nipah virus poses no immediate threat to Pakistan, despite renewed regional concern following reports from parts of South Asia. Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital during a media roundtable earlier this week, specialists emphasized that while Nipah is a highly lethal virus, its current transmission patterns and geographical concentration make the risk to Pakistan exceptionally low. Public anxiety has largely centered on fruit bats in Pakistan, which are known to be natural reservoirs of the virus. Addressing these concerns, Dr Nosheen Nasir, the section head of Infectious Diseases at AKUH, said the virus does not spread merely because bats are present. &ldquo;We want to clarify that simply having bats in the area does not mean an outbreak is imminent,&rdquo; Dr Nasir told Pakistan TV Digital. &ldquo;The virus isn&rsquo;t transmitted through casual exposure, like a bat flying nearby.&rdquo; &ldquo;The real risk lies in spillover events, such as consuming food or raw tree sap contaminated by an infected animal. For the average citizen, basic food hygiene is the most powerful tool we have.&rdquo; Dr Nasir added that recent Nipah clusters remain confined to eastern India and Bangladesh, with no reported cases in regions bordering Pakistan. Preparedness over panicExperts acknowledged the virus&rsquo;s high fatality rate but stressed that Nipah is far less contagious than respiratory viruses such as COVID-19. Dr Faisal Mahmood, professor of Infectious Diseases and associate chief medical officer at AKUH, said the focus should remain on healthcare preparedness rather than public alarm. &ldquo;Nipah is a serious infection, but it is not a current domestic emergency,&rdquo; Dr Mahmood said. &ldquo;Our healthcare resources are better spent addressing immediate challenges, such as the rise in measles cases. That said, vigilance is critical.&rdquo; He explained that clinicians have been advised to closely monitor patients presenting with severe fever and neurological symptoms. &ldquo;Early isolation and specialized protocols are already mapped out to prevent any potential spread,&rdquo; he noted, describing this as a key part of managing the patient journey. The roundtable also highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s ongoing screening of travelers at international entry points as an important preventive measure.&nbsp; Drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, the experts underscored that long-term health security depends on early coordination, clinician awareness, and informed communities. The medical community&rsquo;s message to the public remains clear: maintain high standards of food hygiene, avoid consuming raw date palm sap, and rely on verified medical guidance rather than unverified information circulating on social media.

Nipah virus antibody test. Identifying antibodies to the Nipah virus indicating exposure to the virus, and specifically, the type of antibody (IgM or IgG) provides clues about the timing of exposure. (AFP)

Health

Infectious disease experts at Aga Khan University Hospital say the virus poses no immediate risk to Pakistan, urging preparedness over panic, emphasizing food hygiene, surveillance, clinician vigilance, and public awareness.

Nipah virus poses no immediate threat to Pakistan: Health experts

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has enforced &ldquo;strict and enhanced health surveillance&rdquo; at all entry points after India confirmed two cases of the deadly Nipah virus, joining several Asian countries in stepping up screening of travelers amid regional health alerts. The measures were announced through an advisory issued by Border Health Services - Pakistan following reports of Nipah virus cases in India&rsquo;s West Bengal region. &ldquo;In view of the recent regional alert regarding Nipah Virus, as reported through international and regional public health surveillance mechanisms, including the WHO South-East Asia Region Epidemiological Bulletin, which has reported suspected cases of Nipah Virus infection in West Bengal, India, it has become imperative to further strengthen &lsquo;preventive and surveillance measures at Pakistan&rsquo;s borders,&rsquo;&rdquo; the advisory said. It added that the decision was taken &ldquo;considering the high case fatality rate, zoonotic nature, and potential for human-to-human transmission&rdquo; of the virus. To prevent cross-border transmission and ensure early detection, authorities decided to enforce &ldquo;strict and enhanced health surveillance at all points of entry (POEs) with immediate effect,&rdquo; according to the directive. The instructions apply to &ldquo;international airports, seaports, and ground / land border crossings, without any exception,&rdquo; the statement said. The advisory also highlighted that all in-charges at points of entry shall ensure &ldquo;100% screening of all arriving passengers, transit passengers, crew members, drivers, helpers, and support staff. No individual shall be allowed entry into Pakistan without health clearance by Border Health Services &ndash; Pakistan,&rdquo; the advisory stated. It added that &ldquo;mandatory verification of country of origin and complete travel and transit history for the preceding twenty-one (21) days shall be carried out for each and every traveler, irrespective of nationality or travel status.&rdquo; Officials were also directed to exercise &ldquo;special vigilance for travelers originating from, or transiting through, Nipah-affected or high-risk regions,&rdquo; warning that any false declaration or concealment of travel history would be reported to competent authorities for action. Under the new protocol, all travelers will undergo thermal screening and clinical assessment. Screening staff have been instructed to remain alert for symptoms such as fever, headache, respiratory illness and neurological signs, including confusion or altered consciousness. &ldquo;Any individual consistent with suspected Nipah Virus case definition shall be immediately isolated at the Point of Entry, restricted from onward movement, and managed strictly in accordance with Infection Prevention and Control protocols,&rdquo; the advisory said. Suspected cases will be referred to designated isolation facilities or tertiary care hospitals, while aircraft, vessels or vehicles involved will be disinfected under approved procedures. The advisory warned that any lapse in surveillance or infection control practices would be treated as serious negligence and said daily reports from all entry points would be shared with national health authorities.&nbsp; &ldquo;Any lapse in surveillance or IPC practices shall be treated as serious negligence,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp; Nipah threatens Asia&nbsp;An outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus in India&#39;s West Bengal state has sparked concern across Asia, prompting some countries to tighten airport screening. Thailand has started screening passengers at three airports that receive flights from West Bengal. Nepal has also begun screening arrivals at Kathmandu airport and other land border points with India, according to Radio Pakistan. In India, the first Nipah outbreak was reported in West Bengal in 2001, AFP reported. In 2018, at least 17 people died from Nipah in Kerala, and in 2023, two people died from the virus, also in the southern state. The virus can spread from humans to humans and has a high death rate.

Joins Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia in stepping up screening of travellers after India confirmed two cases of the deadly virus. 

Articles tagged with "Nipah Virus"

Nipah virus poses no immediate threat to Pakistan: Health experts

Pakistan enforces 'strict and enhanced health surveillance' after Nipah cases in India

Nipah virus poses no immediate threat to Pakistan: Health experts