RRI.CO.ID, Solo - The Indonesian government has stepped up monitoring to prevent the potential spread of the Nipah virus after cases were identified in India. The move comes amid growing concerns following reports of Nipah infections in several other countries.

Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, said the situation requires heightened vigilance as the virus has the potential to spread across borders. He made the statement while speaking to reporters in Solo, Central Java, Thursday, 29 January 2026.

“The Nipah virus must be closely monitored because it can spread between countries,” Budi said. He affirmed that preventive measures are essential to protect the Indonesian public from possible transmission.

One of the key preventive steps, according to the health minister, is being cautious when consuming fruit, particularly fruit that is already peeled or left exposed. This warning is especially directed at Indonesians traveling abroad to countries affected by the virus.

“This disease can be transmitted through fruit that has been bitten or eaten by bats, because their saliva can contaminate it,” Budi explained. “For Indonesians, including journalists traveling to those regions, it is best to avoid exposed fruit.”

He advised travellers to choose safer options by consuming fruit that is still covered and peeled personally. “You can eat oranges, for example, because they are covered and can be peeled by yourself, so you can see them clearly,” he said.

Although no cases of Nipah virus transmission have been detected in Indonesia so far, the Ministry of Health has prepared anticipatory measures. These include the implementation of VCR screening to enable early detection of any potential entry of the virus into the country.

In addition, the government has tightened surveillance at points of entry by increasing health checks on international travellers arriving through several major airports in Indonesia. The measures include temperature screening and symptom monitoring by health quarantine officers as part of efforts to prevent the Nipah virus from entering Indonesia.