Pakistan mandates strict traveler screening in response to the Nipah virus threat originating from India.

On Wednesday, Pakistan mandated “stringent and intensified health surveillance” at all entrance points to avert the cross-border propagation of the Nipah virus.

The ruling comes after the verification of two incidents in West Bengal, India, in December 2025. The regulations are effective immediately at international airports, seaports, and land border crossings.

The advisory, released by Border Health Services–Pakistan (BHS-P) under the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, referenced alerts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and regional surveillance systems. It acknowledged the virus’s elevated mortality rate, zoonotic characteristics, and capacity for human-to-human transmission.

The warning emphasized that no individual shall be permitted admission into Pakistan without health clearance from BHS-P. The directives encompass all incoming passengers, transit travelers, crew personnel, drivers, assistants, and support staff.

Entry assessment

The health ministry has mandated comprehensive screening for all travelers. Every individual is required to submit a comprehensive travel and transit history for the prior 21 days, regardless of nationality or status. Particular focus will be directed towards passengers arriving from or transiting through regions afflicted by Nipah. Inaccurate disclosures or withholding of travel history will be recorded and reported without delay.

Travelers must also undergo thermal screening and clinical evaluation at entrance points. Screening professionals have been directed to identify early indicators of Nipah virus infection, such as fever, headache, respiratory complications, disorientation, sleepiness, or other neurological manifestations. Suspected cases shall be promptly separated, prohibited from further movement, and directed to certified isolation facilities or tertiary care institutions. Conveyances and adjacent spaces shall be sanitized in accordance with standard operating practices.

The advise emphasized rigorous adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) standards. Screening personnel must utilize personal protective equipment (PPE), adhere to hand hygiene protocols, and ensure ambient sanitation. Any deviation from compliance will be regarded as significant negligence. Daily reports from all entrance points will be provided to the BHS-P system, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), and the National International Health Regulation Focal Point.

Nipah virus

The Nipah virus, initially recognized in Malaysia in 1999, is predominantly transmitted by fruit bats and, during previous outbreaks, by pigs. Transmission may occur via direct contact with infected animals or contaminated items, including raw date palm juice. Transmission between humans has primarily been recorded through intimate contact with infected persons.

The virus may induce serious disease, encompassing fever, headaches, myalgia, and neurological manifestations including seizures, disorientation, and coma. Significant respiratory complications may potentially arise. The case fatality rate varies between 40% and 75%, contingent upon local healthcare capabilities. Survivors may endure prolonged neurological consequences.

Experts assert that epidemics are often minor and localized. Although Pakistan has not recorded any human cases, the National Institute of Health (NIH) has alerted healthcare providers, indicating that the region is on high alert owing to the confirmed outbreak in West Bengal. The virus exhibits an incubation period of 9 to 14 days, complicating detection at entry locations.

At present, there are no authorized vaccinations or targeted therapies. Candidate vaccines are being developed, including one by Oxford University researchers, which commenced phase II trials in Bangladesh in December 2025, funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

Geographical precautions

Pakistan’s initiatives align with comparable steps throughout the region. Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Malaysia have instituted augmented health screenings and airport temperature assessments to mitigate potential transmission. The WHO designates Nipah as a priority infection due to its epidemic potential and elevated death rate.

Experts indicate that, despite the absence of fruit bats and pigs harboring the virus in Pakistan, travelers may serve as vectors. Transmission between humans happens by respiratory droplets, saliva, or blood from infected persons.

The health ministry intensifies screening and surveillance as authorities persist in monitoring developments in adjacent regions. The measures remain effective until further notice, and officials have mandated complete adherence to all health directives.