Islamabad: Pakistan faces a very low risk of Nipah virus spread and there is no need for public fear or anxiety, health authorities said on Thursday, stressing that precautionary measures are in place only to ensure preparedness and not because of any immediate threat.
Senior officials told a high-level meeting chaired by Federal Health Secretary Hamed Yaqoob Shaikh that no Nipah virus case has been detected in Pakistan so far, either in humans or animals, and that the likelihood of an outbreak remains extremely low.
The meeting reviewed routine preparedness and coordination among federal and provincial health departments, Border Health Services, the National Institute of Health and major public hospitals in Islamabad.
Director General Health Dr Abdul Wali Khan informed the meeting that fruit bats, which are known carriers of the Nipah virus in some countries, are present in Pakistan, but emphasised that there is currently no evidence of the virus circulating among bats or humans in the country.
“While the fruit bat exists in Pakistan, we have no evidence so far of Nipah virus circulation here in the manner reported from India, Bangladesh or other parts of Asia,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s situation remains stable.
Officials from the National Institute of Health said the country’s risk assessment places Nipah at a low level, but surveillance continues as part of routine disease monitoring. They said laboratory capacity is available to test any suspected case if needed, and stressed that preparedness does not mean danger.
NIH officials added that although there is no vaccine or specific treatment for Nipah virus globally, early identification and supportive care are effective in managing the disease, and Pakistan has systems in place to respond if required.
Border Health Services officials told the meeting that standard screening of international travellers is ongoing at airports and land crossings as part of routine public health practice. Director Border Health Services Pakistan Dr Mir Hasan Bullo said health staff are alert to symptoms such as fever or breathing difficulties and have clear protocols to refer suspected cases, should any arise.
Hospital administrators from Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and the Federal Government Polyclinic assured the meeting that isolation facilities are available as a precaution and that healthcare teams are trained to manage suspected cases, even though the chances of encountering such a case are very low.
Health experts also shared general information about Nipah virus, noting that it can affect the nervous and respiratory systems in severe cases, but emphasised that transmission requires close contact and does not occur casually.
Federal Health Secretary Hamed Yaqoob Shaikh urged authorities to communicate calmly and responsibly with the public, saying there was no justification for panic. He stressed the importance of simple awareness measures, particularly ahead of Ramadan, when fruit and dates are widely consumed.
He advised people to wash fruits properly, avoid consuming fallen or damaged fruits and maintain basic hygiene, adding that these are routine food safety practices that protect against many illnesses, not just Nipah.
The secretary emphasised coordination among health departments to ensure readiness, while reiterating that Pakistan currently faces no active Nipah threat.