Govt Monitors Nipah Virus Outbreak in India, Ensures Safety of Indonesians

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed it is closely monitoring the Nipah virus outbreak in India, particularly in West Bengal, and is ensuring that no Indonesian citizens have been infected by the deadly virus.

“The Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi has coordinated with the Honorary Consul in Kolkata, West Bengal, and received information that the situation on the ground remains under control, with health authorities working to contain the spread of the virus,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang in Jakarta on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

She added that, to date, the embassy has not received any reports of Indonesian nationals affected by the Nipah virus.

According to Yvonne, Indonesian representatives in India continue to maintain intensive coordination with relevant parties to monitor developments. The embassy has also issued advisories urging Indonesian citizens in India to take preventive measures and comply with local government regulations amid the outbreak.

The embassy in New Delhi is maintaining communication with Indonesian community networks to ensure assistance can be provided if needed. Currently, 38 Indonesian nationals are recorded as residing in West Bengal, the state where the Nipah virus cases have emerged.

Yvonne further noted that Indian health authorities have activated monitoring, containment, and response measures to prevent wider transmission.

Earlier reports suggested that five people in West Bengal had been infected. However, India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare later clarified that only two confirmed cases have been recorded.

India has previously reported four Nipah virus outbreaks: in West Bengal in 2001 and 2007, and in Kerala in 2018 and 2019.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other health agencies warn that the Nipah virus can affect the lungs and brain. Symptoms include fever, headache, drowsiness, confusion, and coma, with a fatality rate exceeding 40 percent among infected patients.

In response, airport authorities in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand have strengthened health screening for incoming international passengers to prevent the virus from spreading further. ***