Sri Lanka has strengthened its preparedness to detect and respond to a potential outbreak of the Nipah virus (NiV), with health authorities enhancing surveillance and laboratory readiness amid rising regional concerns.
The Medical Research Institute (MRI), the country’s leading diagnostic laboratory, has upgraded its testing capacity with advanced technology, enabling the early detection of suspected Nipah virus cases, according to informed sources.
Nipah virus is a highly infectious zoonotic disease that can spread from animals to humans and through human-to-human transmission, with fruit bats identified as its natural hosts. The virus was first detected during an outbreak in Malaysia in 1998 and has since caused deadly outbreaks in countries such as India and Bangladesh.
Health experts caution that Sri Lanka must remain vigilant due to close human-animal interactions and its tropical environment, particularly given the virus’s high fatality rate, estimated between 40% and 75%. Currently, there are no specific drugs or vaccines available, and treatment mainly involves intensive supportive care.
Early symptoms of the infection may include fever, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting and sore throat, followed by dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness and neurological signs indicating acute encephalitis. In severe cases, patients may develop respiratory complications, seizures and rapid progression to coma within 24 to 48 hours, underscoring the importance of early detection and prevention.
