No immediate Nipah virus threat in Sri Lanka: Health official
Sri Lankan official reassured the public that there is no immediate threat from the Nipah virus, which has been reported in India, noting strong surveillance and precautionary measures in place.
COLOMBO (APP) - A senior Sri Lankan health official said Thursday that there is no immediate threat to the country from the Nipah virus, which has been reported in parts of neighboring India.
Deputy Health Minister Hansaka Wijemuni told journalists in Colombo that health authorities are closely monitoring developments and have put precautionary measures in place, including maintaining adequate testing capacity.
Wijemuni said the virus, which has a high fatality rate, has been detected in several Asian countries, but person-to-person transmission remains rare. He said Sri Lanka has never recorded a Nipah outbreak.
He urged the public not to panic, saying travelers with severe symptoms are unlikely to board flights and that existing screening systems are sufficient to detect potential cases.
Health authorities will continue surveillance and preparedness efforts, Wijemuni said, adding that there is no cause for alarm at present.
Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease transmitted between animals and humans and, in some instances, through human-to-human contact. It is classified as a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization due to its epidemic potential and the severity of illness it can cause. Past outbreaks of the Nipah virus have been associated with high fatality rates, ranging from 40 percent to 75 percent.
