Islamabad: Pakistan has issued formal preparedness letters to major public hospitals, provincial health departments and authorities managing airports, seaports and land crossings as part of a precautionary plan against Nipah virus, even as the federal health ministry says the overall risk of transmission in the country remains very low.
The communications were issued on Friday by Border Health Services Pakistan under the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, following recent reports of Nipah cases in a neighbouring country. Health officials said the move was aimed at ensuring readiness and coordination across the health system rather than responding to any confirmed case inside Pakistan.
Under the preparedness measures, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad has been asked to earmark dedicated beds for the prompt admission and management of suspected Nipah cases referred from Islamabad International Airport. The hospital has also been requested to designate a focal person to maintain constant coordination with border health teams and other concerned authorities.
Separate letters have been sent to agencies responsible for managing Pakistan’s air, sea and land entry points, directing them to strengthen screening and surveillance of incoming travellers and crew members. The instructions focus on early identification of symptoms, immediate reporting and swift referral of any suspected case to designated health facilities.
Authorities at points of entry have also been asked to facilitate isolation arrangements and controlled movement where required, and to ensure operational support for safe and timely referrals. Each entry point has been asked to nominate a focal person to avoid communication gaps during a potential public health response.
At the provincial level, health departments and designated tertiary care hospitals have been directed to ensure the availability of dedicated beds, trained healthcare staff and clear referral pathways should a suspected case be referred from a border entry point. Provinces have also been asked to ensure ambulance support for rapid and safe transportation, using coordination models previously employed during public health emergencies.
In the federal capital, district health authorities have been requested to keep a dedicated ambulance on standby for the swift transfer of suspected cases from Islamabad International Airport to notified hospitals, and to appoint a focal person for round-the-clock coordination.
Health officials said close contacts of any suspected or confirmed Nipah case would be kept under active monitoring for 21 days, in line with national guidelines and World Health Organization recommendations.
Despite the issuance of multiple preparedness letters, authorities reiterated that Pakistan has not detected any Nipah case so far and that there is no evidence of local transmission. Officials described the steps as routine public health vigilance under international health obligations, intended to ensure early detection and prevent any potential spread.
Public health experts say such advance preparedness for high-fatality zoonotic infections is standard practice globally and should be seen as a precautionary measure rather than a cause for public alarm.
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