Tighten disease prevention measures to combat the Nipah virus.

In response to the risk of Nipah virus entering Vietnam, the Ministry of Health has issued a document requesting hospitals and health departments nationwide to strengthen measures for monitoring, preventing, and controlling the spread of this dangerous infectious disease.

The Ministry of Health has just requested localities to strengthen health surveillance at border gates and promptly detect suspected cases. (Photo: Thanh Dat)

According to the infectious disease surveillance system, from December 27, 2025 to January 26, 2026, India recorded five suspected cases of Nipah virus infection (two of which were confirmed by testing) at a hospital in West Bengal.

Strictly isolate suspected cases.

According to the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, Ministry of Health , Nipah virus disease belongs to the group of particularly dangerous infectious diseases (group A), with a very high mortality rate, ranging from 40-75%. Currently, there is no vaccine or specific treatment for this disease.

Given the risk of the disease entering Vietnam, the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management requires medical facilities to proactively implement disease prevention and control measures. Specifically, the Ministry of Health requires medical facilities to strengthen disease prevention and control efforts, fully implement personal protective measures for medical staff and those in close contact with suspected or confirmed cases, especially those who have recently entered the country from affected countries within the past 14 days. Strict infection control measures must be implemented, and regular checks and monitoring of the implementation and strict isolation of all suspected or confirmed Nipah virus cases at treatment facilities must be carried out.

Previously, the Department of Disease Prevention, Ministry of Health, also requested localities to strengthen health surveillance at border gates, promptly detect suspected cases; and at the same time, requested medical facilities to prepare treatment plans to avoid being caught off guard.

In Ho Chi Minh City, in-depth studies using modern techniques such as metagenomics, PCR, mass spectrometry, etc., conducted by the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in collaboration with the City Hospital for Tropical Diseases on encephalitis patients in the city and southern provinces, did not detect the Nipah virus.

To proactively prevent the risk of an outbreak, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health is implementing a comprehensive set of measures appropriate to the current risk level, specifically: Strengthening medical surveillance at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, especially for passengers arriving from or transiting through areas where Nipah virus cases have been recorded; closely monitoring health status and epidemiological factors, promptly detecting cases with fever, respiratory symptoms, or abnormal neurological symptoms to immediately transfer them to the Tropical Diseases Hospital for isolation, diagnosis, and treatment according to regulations.

Understanding correctly will prevent confusion.

Experts believe that the risk of a Nipah virus outbreak in Vietnam is currently not high. However, the risk of external entry remains, given the increasing international travel and interaction, especially with the upcoming Lunar New Year.

Dr. Le Quoc Hung, Head of the Department of Tropical Diseases at Cho Ray Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City), said: Nipah virus disease is an acute infectious disease that progresses rapidly, causing encephalitis or pneumonia, severe respiratory failure, and a high mortality rate. Nipah virus is transmitted from bats to humans when bats excrete the virus through saliva or urine, contaminating food and drinks. This virus can also be transmitted through intermediate animals, especially pigs, when humans have close contact with infected pigs or with tissues and secretions during farming, transportation, and slaughtering...

Dr. Hung warned: Nipah virus disease is easily overlooked because its initial symptoms resemble those of a common cold. In the early days, patients may experience fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, sore throat, and vomiting; some cases may also present with coughing or difficulty breathing. The danger lies in the fact that the disease can rapidly progress to encephalitis. Therefore, those who have recently traveled from an area under alert or have had close contact with someone with a severe illness of unknown origin should pay particular attention to "red flag" signs such as: unusual lethargy, drowsiness, confusion, slurred speech, seizures, or rapidly worsening altered consciousness. If these signs appear, the patient must be immediately taken to a medical facility capable of resuscitation; monitoring at home should be avoided.

Dr. Truong Huu Khanh, former Head of the Infectious Diseases and Neurology Department at Children's Hospital 1 (Ho Chi Minh City), affirmed that the Nipah virus is a "classic" virus, not a new one. This is an encephalitis-causing agent that has been recorded worldwide for decades. "To date, the Nipah virus has not been shown to have sustained human-to-human transmission within the community. However, if this virus continues to spread from animals to humans for a long time without strict control, it will increase the likelihood of human-to-human transmission," Dr. Khanh emphasized.

According to Dr. Khanh, the public's anxiety upon hearing about the Nipah virus after the Covid-19 pandemic is understandable. However, comparing it to SARS-CoV-2, Dr. Khanh emphasized that these are two completely different groups of viruses. SARS-CoV-2 is a new virus that spreads rapidly from person to person through the respiratory tract, creating a global pandemic. Meanwhile, Nipah is a virus that has existed for a long time, has a clear animal origin, a narrow transmission route, and does not maintain a chain of transmission within the community, making it difficult to create a large-scale epidemic.

Therefore, according to experts, people should not panic, but should still proactively take necessary preventive measures.

The Department of Disease Prevention, Ministry of Health, advises: People should pay attention to "eating cooked food and drinking boiled water," washing and peeling fruits before eating, avoiding eating or drinking fruits that show signs of being bitten or gnawed by animals (bats, birds); avoid drinking tree sap (such as palm sap, raw or unprocessed coconut sap). Avoid close contact with animals that have a high potential for transmitting diseases, such as fruit bats; frequently wash hands with soap or disinfectant solution after slaughtering or coming into contact with animals.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Nipah virus was first detected in Malaysia in 1999.
Later outbreaks in Bangladesh and India highlighted the risk of foodborne infection and secondary person-to-person transmission, with healthcare workers and patient caregivers being at high risk.

According to Nhan Dan newspaper

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/xa-hoi/y-te/202602/siet-chat-phong-dich-ngan-virus-nipah-559384d/