ISLAMABAD: The National Institute of Health (NIH) has announced that Pakistan has not reported any case of the Nipah virus so far.
Ministry of Health spokesperson, however, says a precautionary advisory has been issued for the general public in this regard.
The spokesperson explains that the Nipah virus is transmitted to humans through bats and pigs. Historically, cases of the Nipah virus have been documented in countries such as Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, and India, as mentioned by Federal Health Minister Dr Nadeem Jan.
He further noted that the health ministry is actively monitoring the situation in this regard.
Dr Jan said instructions have been issued to both the NIH and Border Health Services (BHS), underlining that the Nipah virus can affect both humans and animals.
Efforts are underway to enhance the BHS system, Dr Jan added and also stressed that the ministry is committed to implementing the recommendations of the International Health Regulations to safeguard the public against diseases and epidemics.
