Isolate and thoroughly handle it from the first case
To proactively prevent and control diseases from entering our country, the Ministry of Health requests the People's Committees of provinces and cities to direct the Departments of Health, relevant departments, branches and authorities at all levels to urgently implement the following contents:
Strengthen monitoring and detection of suspected cases of illness right at border gates, medical facilities and in the community for management, reception, and timely treatment.
Isolate and thoroughly handle from the first case, not allowing the epidemic to spread in the community, especially during the Lunar New Year and the early festival season of 2026. Coordinate with the Institutes of Hygiene and Epidemiology/Pasteur to take diagnostic samples when recording suspected cases.
Strictly implement infection prevention and control, and infection prevention and control at medical examination and treatment facilities. Note and fully implement personal protective measures for medical staff and people in contact with suspected/infected cases.
Organize training for health workers at all levels on prevention measures and infection prevention and control.
Develop a plan to prevent and control Nipah virus epidemics at border gates, according to situations; prepare human resources, supplies, medicines, chemicals, equipment, and means to respond promptly in case an epidemic occurs.
Deploy disease prevention and control propaganda activities to media agencies and the community so that people are not confused, worried, understand and proactively implement disease prevention measures, especially for people coming from countries and regions with epidemics.
Ready to accept and treat patients with or suspected of having the disease
The Ministry of Health requests the Institutes of Hygiene and Epidemiology/Pasteur to closely monitor the epidemic situation in the world and promptly advise the Ministry of Health on appropriate and effective epidemic prevention and control measures.
Guiding, training, and supporting localities on monitoring, testing and prevention measures.
Continue to strengthen testing capacity, diagnosis of Nipah virus disease and receive specimens from localities for testing and diagnosis.
Review and strengthen the rapid response team at the unit, ready to respond when recording suspicious and problematic cases in localities (if any).
The Ministry of Health requests hospitals under the Ministry of Health to be ready to receive and treat patients suspected of contracting the Nipah virus; ensure infection prevention and control, and infection prevention at hospitals.
Guiding, training, and supporting localities on treatment measures and infection prevention in medical facilities.
Coordinate with the Institutes of Hygiene and Epidemiology/Pasteur to investigate, monitor, and take samples for testing of suspected cases of Nipah virus infection.
Prepare mobile emergency teams to support localities when necessary.
According to information from the Infectious Disease Surveillance System, from December 27, 2025 to January 27, 2026, India recorded 5 suspected cases of Nipah virus infection (including 2 cases with confirmed tests) at a hospital in West Bengal.
The disease caused by the Nipah virus is a group A infectious disease, this virus is mainly transmitted from animals to humans (in India today it is transmitted through fruit bats) or contact with objects and food infected with the virus and can also be transmitted from person to person (through direct contact with the patient's secretions, excreted fluids); the incubation period is from 4 to 14 days, people infected with the virus may have symptoms: fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting and sore throat, then dizziness, drowsiness, consciousness disorders and neurological signs indicating acute encephalitis. The estimated mortality rate is from 40% to 75%.
Currently, there is no vaccine or specific treatment for both humans and animals.
