COLOMBO, Jan 29: A senior health official in Sri Lanka has assured the public that there is no immediate threat from the Nipah virus, despite its occurrence in parts of neighboring India.
Hansaka Wijemuni, Deputy Health Minister, informed journalists in Colombo that health authorities are vigilantly monitoring the situation. Precautionary measures have been implemented, including maintaining adequate testing capabilities.
Wijemuni noted that while the virus, known for its high fatality rate, has been detected in several Asian countries, human-to-human transmission is uncommon. He emphasized that Sri Lanka has yet to record a Nipah virus outbreak.
The public was urged to remain calm, as travelers displaying severe symptoms are unlikely to travel by air. Additionally, existing screening systems are considered sufficient to identify potential cases.
Health authorities will continue their surveillance and preparedness efforts, Wijemuni stated, reaffirming that there is presently no cause for alarm.
The Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease, spreading between animals and humans, and occasionally through human contact. Classified as a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization due to its potential to cause epidemics and severe illness, past outbreaks have shown fatality rates between 40 and 75 percent.
