No need for unnecessary fear over Nipah virus: Health Deputy Minister

By Mangala Pavithrani

Colombo, Jan. 29 (Daily Mirror) - Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni yesterday assured the public that there is no threat to Sri Lanka from the Nipah virus currently reported in parts of India, stressing that no cases have been detected in the country so far.

Addressing the media, the Deputy Minister said Sri Lanka, like other countries in the Asian region where Nipah has previously been reported, is closely monitoring the situation. However, he emphasized that there is no reason for unnecessary fear.

“There is no threat to Sri Lanka at this time. Nipah has never spread as a global epidemic in history, and therefore people should not be unduly alarmed,” Dr. Wijemuni said. He added that Sri Lanka has adequate testing facilities and test kits to screen suspected cases if required.

He further explained that health authorities continuously assess whether emerging diseases in the region could have any impact on Sri Lanka. “When such viruses are reported elsewhere, we study the situation very carefully and take action only if there is a real risk to the country,” he said.

Commenting on calls for testing passengers entering Sri Lanka, Dr. Wijemuni said such measures are only necessary when there is a confirmed epidemic and clear evidence of easy human-to-human transmission. “In the case of Nipah, infected individuals usually become seriously ill, making it highly unlikely for them to travel by air,” he noted.

The Deputy Minister also pointed out that the risk of person-to-person transmission of the Nipah virus is very low. “There is absolutely no need to panic, get tested unnecessarily, or waste public funds and time on this issue,” he stressed.

Dr. Wijemuni urged the public to rely on official information issued by health authorities and avoid spreading fear through misinformation.