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The Ministry of Health (MOH) has assured the public that it is closely monitoring the situation following reports of confirmed Nipah virus infections in India
In a series of posts on X, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said Malaysia is prepared to face any potential risk posed by the virus.
"I want to allay any public apprehension. Our health security system is robust, tested, and ready. We are scaling our response proportionately to keep the public safe," he said.
"We are in direct contact with the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant authorities to verify the latest epidemiological data," he added.
Salam 🇲🇾 Madani 🌹
— Dzulkefly Ahmad (@DrDzul) January 27, 2026
– Breaking News –
🦠 Kesiapsiagaan Malaysia Hadapi Risiko Virus Nipah (NiV)
📅 27 Jan 2026
1️⃣ Makluman Awal Serantau
📌 CPRC menerima makluman pada 23 Jan 2025 daripada ASEAN Biological Threats Surveillance Centre (ABVC)
🔴 5 kes disahkan virus Nipah (NiV)… https://t.co/uw33ADfb0c
Dr Dzulkefly was responding to reports that Thailand is tightening health screening at major international airports
He also confirmed that Malaysia was notified on 23 January of five Nipah virus cases involving healthcare workers in West Bengal, India. The cases were considered nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections.
The health minister added that while the risk of local transmission in Malaysia remains low, the risk of imported cases and further spread has been assessed as moderate.
As a precaution, targeted fever screening has been implemented for the 36 to 44 direct flights arriving daily from India and Bangladesh.
He assured that strict health surveillance and screening measures are in place at Malaysia's borders, with clear protocols to manage symptomatic travellers and emergency medical teams on standby.
"We act based on science and evidence, not rumours. Any additional measures will be implemented following careful risk assessment and confirmed information," he said.
Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport officials set up screening points for passengers arriving from India to monitor for Nipah virus infections.
Image via Bangkok PostAccording to WHO, the Nipah virus is a is a zoonotic virus that was first recognised in 1999 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia
No new outbreaks have been reported in the country since then.
However, because the virus can infect a wide range of animals and cause inflammation of the brain (acute encephalitis) with a mortality rate of up to 75%, it remains a public health concern.
There are currently no specific drugs or vaccines for Nipah virus infection, making prevention and reducing human-to-human transmission crucial. This includes practising good hand hygiene, especially after caring for or visiting sick individuals.
