The Ministry of Health and Mass Media has issued an official statement to address public concerns following recent media reports about the Nipah virus.
According to the statement, several Nipah virus cases have been reported in India’s West Bengal state. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has not recommended any international travel restrictions in response to the situation.
Health authorities stressed that the risk of the virus spreading to Sri Lanka remains extremely low. They explained that Nipah is a zoonotic disease mainly found in animals, especially fruit bats, and that human infections occur only in rare cases through close contact with infected animals or contaminated substances.
The ministry noted that human-to-human transmission is limited and typically requires prolonged, close contact with an infected person. It also clarified that the virus does not spread through the air like influenza and cannot be transmitted through casual, day-to-day interactions.
Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Specialist Dr. Anil Jasinghe, stated that Sri Lanka has a strong disease surveillance system capable of detecting infectious diseases at an early stage. He added that advanced diagnostic facilities, including laboratory testing at the Medical Research Institute (MRI), enable rapid identification and response if a Nipah case is detected.
The statement further emphasised that the ministry is continuously monitoring regional disease developments in coordination with the WHO and other international health partners.
The public has been urged to rely only on official and verified sources for information, while authorities reassured that the health sector is fully prepared to implement swift and effective control measures if any suspected case arises.
