Nepal on High Alert Over Nipah Virus

Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population has issued a caution over the risk of the Nipah virus, warning that although no cases have been detected in Nepal so far, the threat remains high.

Ministry spokesperson Dr Prakash Budhathoki said surveillance has been intensified at airports, border checkpoints and health institutions, and instructions have been issued to test samples from travelers showing suspicious symptoms.

Dr Sher Bahadur Pun said the Nipah virus originates in bats and can spread to humans through animals such as pigs and cattle, as well as through direct contact with the blood or urine of infected individuals.

Symptoms include fever, headache, dizziness and breathing difficulties.

The World Health Organization has warned that the fatality rate can range from 40 to 70 percent if timely treatment is not provided. Authorities said heightened vigilance is necessary due to Nepal’s proximity to affected areas in neighboring India, despite the absence of confirmed cases in the country.