IPHO urges vigilance, prevention amid Nipah virus reports

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) has urged the public to stay informed and strictly observe preventive and isolation measures amid international reports of Nipah virus infections, though no local cases have been confirmed in the Philippines.

Health authorities in India recently confirmed two Nipah virus infections involving health workers in their 20s, prompting heightened monitoring and public health advisories in several countries.

In a statement on Monday, Feb. 2, IPHO chief Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon said Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans, through contaminated food, or directly between people.

She explained that fruit bats are the virus’s natural reservoir and that transmission may occur through exposure to infected animals or their bodily fluids.

According to the World Health Organization, symptoms of Nipah virus infection may include fever, headache, confusion, cough, and difficulty breathing, which can progress to severe complications such as encephalitis.

The virus has a case fatality rate ranging from 40% to 75%, based on previous outbreaks in South and Southeast Asia.

“There is still no licensed treatment or vaccine for the Nipah virus, which is why we are encouraging everyone to strictly observe prevention and isolation protocols,” Quiñon said.

“It is important that we are all well informed and conscious in preventing transmission,” she added.

Quiñon advised residents to cover or protect fruits growing near their homes to prevent contact with fruit bats, immediately discard fruits that may have been bitten or contaminated, and consistently practice proper hygiene.

She also urged workers who handle pigs or horses to wear protective equipment such as goggles, face masks, boots, and aprons to reduce the risk of exposure to contaminated animal fluids.

Quiñon further advised individuals who may have been exposed to the virus to immediately consult the nearest health facility.

Residents living near areas inhabited by bats were likewise encouraged to wear face masks, practice frequent handwashing, and separate potentially contaminated clothing.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) assured the public that monitoring measures remain in place, particularly at major airports, where inbound travelers continue to undergo health screening and thermal scanning.

The DOH said travelers arriving from flagged countries will be subject to additional medical examination.

The Philippines last recorded Nipah virus cases in 2014, when 17 individuals in Sultan Kudarat developed flu-like symptoms or brain infections such as encephalitis and meningitis.

Those cases were reportedly linked to the consumption of horse meat and exposure to infected individuals.