Pakistan has enforced strict and enhanced health surveillance at all international entry points in response to the rising Nipah virus threat from India, following the confirmation of two cases in West Bengal in December 2025.
The directive, issued on Wednesday, applies immediately to international airports, seaports, and land border crossings across the country. The advisory was released by Border Health Services–Pakistan (BHS-P) under the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, citing alerts from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and regional disease surveillance systems.
Officials warned that the Nipah virus poses a serious public health risk due to its high fatality rate, zoonotic nature, and proven human-to-human transmission. The advisory clearly states that no individual will be allowed entry into Pakistan without mandatory health clearance issued by BHS-P authorities.
Mandatory Entry Screening
Under the new measures, 100% screening of all traveler’s has been made compulsory. This includes arriving passengers, transit travelers, airline and ship crew, drivers, helpers, and support staff—regardless of nationality or travel status.
All travelers must submit a complete travel and transit history for the previous 21 days. Special scrutiny will be applied to individuals arriving from or transiting through Nipah-affected regions. Authorities warned that any false declarations or concealment of travel history will be officially recorded and immediately reported.
Travelers will also undergo thermal screening and clinical assessment at entry points. Health officials have been instructed to monitor early symptoms of Nipah virus infection, including fever, headache, respiratory distress, confusion, drowsiness, and neurological signs. Suspected cases will be immediately isolated, barred from onward travel, and shifted to designated isolation units or tertiary care hospitals. Conveyances and surrounding areas will be disinfected as per standard operating procedures.
Also Read: Nipah Virus outbreak: Symptoms, risks, and safety measures explained
Infection Control Measures
The advisory stresses strict compliance with infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols. Screening staff must use personal protective equipment (PPE), ensure hand hygiene, and maintain environmental sanitation. Any negligence in protocol adherence will be treated as a serious violation.
Daily surveillance reports from all entry points will be submitted to the BHS-P system, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), and the National International Health Regulation Focal Point.
What Is Nipah Virus?
First identified in Malaysia in 1999, Nipah virus is primarily carried by fruit bats and has previously spread through pigs. Transmission occurs through contact with infected animals, contaminated food products such as raw date palm juice, or close contact with infected individuals.
The virus can cause severe illness, including fever, muscle pain, respiratory complications, and neurological symptoms such as seizures, confusion, coma, and even death. The case fatality rate ranges from 40% to 75%, depending on healthcare response capacity. Survivors may suffer long-term neurological complications.
Health experts note that although Pakistan has not reported any human cases so far, the incubation period of 9 to 14 days makes early detection challenging. The National Institute of Health (NIH) has placed healthcare facilities on high alert following the confirmed outbreak in India.
Currently, no approved vaccine or specific treatment exists for Nipah virus. However, vaccine candidates are under development, including one by Oxford University scientists, which entered Phase II trials in Bangladesh in December 2025 with support from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
Also Read: Nipah Virus outbreak in India threatens T20 World Cup 2026
Regional Precautions
Pakistan’s move aligns with similar preventive actions taken by Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Malaysia, where enhanced airport screening and temperature checks have been introduced. The WHO classifies Nipah virus as a priority pathogen due to its epidemic potential and high mortality rate.
Health officials emphasized that while Pakistan lacks animal reservoirs for the virus, infected travelers can still introduce transmission chains. Authorities said the measures will remain in force until further notice, urging full public cooperation with health directives.
