Nepal Verified News
Tue Feb 03 2026
The Ministry of Health and Population has said it is fully prepared to protect public health and has asked people not to panic over the Nipah virus, but to stay alert and act responsibly. The Ministry said it is aware of the virus reported in some countries and has already taken necessary safety measures.
Although the World Health Organization has said the overall risk of the Nipah virus is low at both global and South and Southeast Asia levels, the Ministry has strengthened preparedness and public awareness because cases have been reported in neighboring countries. As a safety step, the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division has alerted health institutions across the country and arranged facilities for Nipah virus testing.
The Ministry explained that the Nipah virus can spread by eating fruits contaminated with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected bats. To reduce risk, people have been advised to follow basic health and hygiene practices. These include washing fruits properly, eating well-cooked vegetables, drinking boiled or safe water, keeping animal sheds and farms clean, using gloves and masks when handling meat, washing hands regularly with soap and water, and wearing masks in crowded places.
The Ministry also said that anyone who shows symptoms such as fever, headache, body pain, dizziness, cough, breathing problems, nausea, vomiting, or loss of consciousness in severe cases should be isolated and reported immediately. People experiencing such symptoms are advised to visit the nearest health facility or call the health hotline number 1115.
The Ministry clarified that there are no confirmed cases of Nipah virus in Nepal so far and assured that health authorities are fully ready to control any possible risk. It also said the situation is being closely monitored in coordination with national and international partners and urged the public not to spread rumors and to trust only official information from the Ministry of Health and Population.
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