KARACHI: The Sindh Directorate General of Health Services has issued an alert and advisory on the Nipah virus (NiV) after confirmation of an outbreak in West Bengal, India, directing all public and private health institutions across the province to strengthen surveillance, preparedness, and response measures.
According to the advisory, Nipah virus is a highly pathogenic zoonotic disease that can cause severe respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. While no human case has been reported in Pakistan so far, health authorities have cautioned that the regional situation in South Asia warrants heightened vigilance, particularly in view of confirmed cases and fatalities in West Bengal and previous outbreaks in Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Singapore.
The advisory, issued on January 28, 2026, refers to guidelines received from the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC–NIH), and has been circulated to major public sector hospitals, teaching institutions, district health offices, and specialized health facilities in Karachi, Hyderabad, Larkana, Sukkur, and other districts of Sindh.
Health officials have been instructed to enhance surveillance for any suspected cases of acute encephalitis or severe respiratory illness, particularly among individuals with recent travel history to affected regions. The advisory emphasizes early detection through standardized case definitions, immediate isolation of suspected patients, and strict infection prevention and control measures in healthcare settings.
The document notes that Nipah virus has a high case fatality rate, ranging from 40 to 75 percent, and can be transmitted through contaminated food, direct contact with infected animals such as fruit bats or pigs, and close unprotected contact with infected individuals, especially in hospital environments. Initial symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, sore throat, dizziness, and drowsiness, which may rapidly progress to encephalitis, seizures, coma, and death within 24 to 48 hours.
Laboratory confirmation is to be carried out through real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing of throat and nasal swabs, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, and blood samples, with all specimens required to be transported under strict biosafety and cold chain protocols to the NIH Islamabad virology department.
The advisory clarifies that there is currently no specific antiviral treatment or licensed vaccine available for Nipah virus, and patient management remains largely supportive, including intensive care where required. Ribavirin is not routinely recommended due to inconclusive clinical effectiveness.
Provincial health departments have been directed to designate at least one tertiary care hospital with isolation facilities as an Infectious Diseases Unit, ensure availability of trained staff and personal protective equipment, activate Rapid Response Teams, strengthen public health laboratories, and maintain close coordination with Border Health Services at airports and land crossings.
Travel-related measures have also been advised, including risk-based screening at points of entry and guidance for travelers returning from affected areas to self-monitor for symptoms for 21 days and seek immediate medical care if symptoms develop.
The advisory concludes by urging widespread dissemination of the alert among health professionals and relevant authorities, and calls for continuous reporting to NIH on preparedness and preventive measures undertaken to mitigate the risk of Nipah virus spillover into Pakistan.
