COLOMBO, Jan 29: A senior health official in Sri Lanka stated on Thursday that there is no immediate threat of the Nipah virus in the country, even though it has been reported in parts of neighboring India.
Deputy Health Minister Hansaka Wijemuni informed journalists in Colombo that health authorities are actively monitoring the situation and have implemented precautionary measures, including maintaining sufficient testing capacity.
Wijemuni mentioned that the virus, known for its high fatality rate, has been detected in several Asian countries, but transmission between people remains rare. He noted that Sri Lanka has not experienced a Nipah outbreak in the past.
He emphasized to the public that there is no need for panic, asserting that individuals with severe symptoms are unlikely to board flights and current screening systems are adequate for detecting potential cases.
Health authorities will persist with their surveillance and preparedness efforts, Wijemuni added, assuring that there is no reason for concern at present.
Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease transmitted between animals and humans, and occasionally through human-to-human contact. The World Health Organization classifies it as a priority pathogen due to its potential to cause epidemics and the severity of illness it can lead to. Previous outbreaks have shown high fatality rates, from 40 percent to 75 percent.
