Thai health authorities have confirmed the detection of the Nipah virus, a highly lethal pathogen, in certain species of fruit bats in Thailand, while stressing that the greater current risk comes from infected travelers arriving from countries experiencing outbreaks.
Speaking to reporters on January 26, Dr. Sophon Iamsirithaworn, Deputy Permanent Secretary at Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, said the Nipah virus had been found in fruit bats in Thailand, but at significantly lower viral levels than in countries where human cases have been reported.
To prevent potential spillover, Thai authorities have implemented preventive measures, including banning pig farming in areas where Nipah-positive bats have been detected, as pigs can act as an intermediate host transmitting the virus from bats to humans.
Thailand has not recorded any confirmed human cases of Nipah virus to date. However, health officials remain on high alert due to outbreaks in other regions, particularly Bangladesh and India’s West Bengal state. Despite the geographical distance, officials noted the presence of direct flights from those areas to major Thai airports, including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and Phuket.
As a result, Thailand has intensified health screening of travelers arriving from affected countries. Screening efforts focus on passengers with fever, respiratory symptoms, or those who have stayed in outbreak areas within the previous 21 days.
Health officials confirmed that the Nipah virus detected in Thai bats belongs to the Bangladesh strain, one of two known Nipah virus strains alongside the Malaysia strain. The Bangladesh strain is considered more dangerous, associated with higher fatality rates and severe respiratory symptoms.
Nipah virus infection is regarded as a serious public health threat, as it can cause severe pneumonia and encephalitis, and currently no vaccine or specific treatment is available. Fatality rates range from 40% to 75%, depending on the strain and the level of healthcare response in affected areas. Fortunately, human-to-human transmission is relatively limited, as infection typically requires direct contact with bodily fluids of an infected person.
Testing in Thailand shows that approximately 10% of fruit bat samples carry the virus, compared to 40–50% among fruit bats in India. Experts caution that while fruit bats are the primary natural hosts, the virus can be amplified if transmitted to pigs before spreading to humans.
Children are considered particularly vulnerable to Nipah virus infection. Symptoms in children may be less obvious initially but often progress to severe disease, including encephalitis. Survivors may suffer long-term complications such as developmental delays, learning difficulties, or epilepsy.
Thai health authorities said they will continue close surveillance and preventive measures to reduce the risk of a Nipah virus outbreak in the country.
