Early Diagnosis Matters Most in Nipah Treatment

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Early diagnosis and proper treatment can improve survival rate in Nipah virus infection cases. he National Professional Officer (Epidemiologist), WHO Indonesia, Endang Wulandari made the statement in an interview with the Voice of Indonesia on Wednesday, 11 February 2026.

According to her, case fatality rate of Nipah virus depends on early detection and clinical management. "As early as we can treat the person with the supportive treatment, proper supportive treatment, it can improve the survival and save lives," Endang Wulandari conveyed.

Regarding early detection, Endang affirmed people need to be aware first on risk factor or how Nipah virus is transmitted. Nipah itself can be transmitted between animal - such as bats - to other animals, animal to food that human consumes, and human to human.

In case of animal to food, she said, "A fruit that is already bitten by bats can be risk factor."

Then, people with the risk factor might develop the symptoms during the incubation period around 4 to 14 days, or in a very rare case, 45 days. These symptoms can be as common as fever, headache, and sore throat, so realizing one's risk factor is important.

People with risk factor and symptom need to go to health workers for further diagnostic and anamnesis. The health workers will conduct case management and further investigation of a potential Nipah virus infection case.

However, Endang said, licensed medicine or vaccine for Nipah is not currently available. Both have been included in WHO' s research and development blueprints for epidemics.

For now, according to Endang, prevention is highly important. People are recommended to avoid eating raw food, to wash fruit, as well as to perform health protocols especially for health workers who are treating patients of such cases.

This interview is available on Voice of Indonesia's Youtube channel - VOI Official.