Picture courtesy of Bangkokpost

Thailand has revived disease control measures previously used during the Covid-19 pandemic as a precaution against the possible spread of the Nipah virus, despite there being no confirmed cases in the country. The measures include intensified health screening of travellers arriving from countries considered to be at risk, with immediate implementation at key entry points such as airports.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Sunday, 25 January 2026, that the tightened controls were necessary because there is neither a cure nor a vaccine for the Nipah virus. He stressed that the move was precautionary and aimed at preventing an outbreak rather than responding to an existing one.

The decision follows reports of Nipah virus disease cases in India, which raised regional public health concerns. Thailand has not recorded any Nipah infections to date, but authorities opted to act early by adapting systems developed during the Covid-19 response.

Mr Anutin said public health screening systems had been adjusted using the same model applied during the Covid-19 outbreak in Thailand. He added that screening of visitors from any risk country must be intensified to ensure early detection and containment.

At the same time, the prime minister urged the public not to panic, noting that the Nipah virus is transmitted through bodily fluids and is not airborne. “People can live their normal life as usual and adhere to their familiar hygienic routine, like eating freshly cooked food, using serving spoons, frequently washing their hands and avoiding shaking hands,” he said.

He also said the Public Health Ministry would issue appropriate announcements on the Nipah situation, along with hygiene guidelines, to prevent public anxiety. These communications are intended to keep the public informed while maintaining normal daily activities.

Dr Nattapong Wongwiwat, director-general of medical science, said hospitals and medical institutions under his department had been instructed to prepare for a possible outbreak. Preparations include ensuring the availability of specialist staff, isolation wards, medication and other medical supplies.

The readiness measures apply to Rajavithi Hospital, Lerdsin Hospital, Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital, the Neurological Institute of Thailand, the Central Chest Institute of Thailand and the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health. Internal and external specialists have also been tasked with drawing up nationwide guidelines for medical personnel.

Dr Nattapong said these steps were designed to maximise public safety and ensure a coordinated medical response if a Nipah case is detected. Authorities will continue monitoring the regional situation and adjust measures as needed.

Key Takeaways

• Thailand has reinstated Covid-style screening measures to prevent a Nipah virus outbreak despite having no cases.

• Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the virus is not airborne and urged the public not to panic.

• Hospitals nationwide have been instructed to prepare staff, facilities and guidelines for a possible outbreak.

Related story

Thailand-heightens-alert-over-nipah-virus-after-India-outbreak

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkokpost 2026-01-26

 

 

Good to see preparations. No point in saying later why were there no preparations.

However, whether the government preparations will be effective is another story.

This one can indeed by a nasty virus.

What I take away from this: don't nibble on fruits that a bat has shat on. Don't go around kissing Indian men.

Seems not too difficult.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the incubation period is generally believed to range from four to 21 days, though longer delays between exposure and illness have been reported in rare cases during previous outbreaks. Patients typically develop a sudden flu-like illness marked by fever, headache, muscle pain and fatigue. In some cases, respiratory symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath or pneumonia also occur, although the timing and severity of these symptoms can vary widely.

The most serious and defining complication of Nipah infection is inflammation of the brain, known as encephalitis. Neurological symptoms, including confusion, altered consciousness, seizures or coma, usually appear several days to weeks after the initial onset of illness. Some patients may also develop meningitis.

Nipah virus is associated with a high death rate, with fatality levels reported between 40 and 75 per cent depending on the outbreak and the viral strain involved. Survivors may experience long-term neurological effects, such as persistent seizures or changes in personality, according to the UK Health Security Agency’s update.

Good call by Thailand!

Especially as the Nipah virus has no vaccine or cure, and there are reports of cases in India.

Precautionary screening at key entry points is exactly the right call, using the systems they perfected during COVID to prevent any outbreak before it starts.

As I see it, the key issue here is the large number of international visitors to Thailand.

Thailand's initiative doesn't just benefit Thais, it will potentially benefit many other countries as well by peventing the virus from entering and potentially being carried abroad as these visitors return home.

Well done Thailand!

Good to take measures against "import" of the virus but don't forget :

Nipah virus has been isolated from Lyle's flying fox (Pteropus lylei) in Cambodia^[8] and viral RNA found in urine and saliva from P. lylei and Horsfield's roundleaf bat (Hipposideros larvatus) in Thailand.^[9] Ineffective forms of the virus have also been isolated from environmental samples of bat urine and partially eaten fruit in Malaysia.^[10] Antibodies to henipaviruses have also been found in fruit bats in Madagascar (Pteropus rufus, Eidolon dupreanum)^[11] and Ghana (Eidolon helvum)^[12] indicating a wide geographic distribution of the viruses. No infection of humans or other species have been observed in Cambodia, Thailand or Africa as of May 2018. In September 2023, India reported at least five infections and two deaths.^[13] In July 2024, a new infection occurred and a 14-year-old boy died as a result of it.^[14] In January 2026, five Nipah-cases were confirmed in the state of West Bengal in India.^[15]

^{(source : wikipedia)}

3 hours ago, jts-khorat said:

This one can indeed by a nasty virus.

What I take away from this: don't nibble on fruits that a bat has shat on. Don't go around kissing Indian men.

Seems not too difficult.

Except for non-existing ladies of the night in Pattaya

4 hours ago, Purdey said:

Good to see preparations.

Shortly before an election.

Just saying...

23 hours ago, jts-khorat said:

Don't go around kissing Indian men.

As easy as that sounds - that also implies you should avoid women who have been in contact with Indian men - and that is a large percentage of Pattaya at the present. 100% the first cases in Thailand will be discovered there assuming they keep encouraging Indians to come.

On 1/25/2026 at 8:15 PM, Georgealbert said:

the Nipah virus is transmitted through bodily fluids

Luckily no such transmission is likely in Thailand. Especially not around the Soi Nana area, Soi Cowboy, Patpong, all of Pattaya.....

So we're all safe! Whew!

As a youngster i don't remember such carry on over basically what is only flu.

Pattaya Nights

On 1/26/2026 at 4:23 AM, jts-khorat said:

This one can indeed by a nasty virus.

What I take away from this: don't nibble on fruits that a bat has shat on. Don't go around kissing Indian men.

Seems not too difficult.

Tell the ladyboys to stop kissing Indians

On 1/26/2026 at 5:23 AM, jts-khorat said:

This one can indeed by a nasty virus.

What I take away from this: don't nibble on fruits that a bat has shat on. Don't go around kissing Indian men.

Seems not too difficult.

What about indirectly as in your partner kisses Indian men then kiss you after that

3 minutes ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

What about indirectly as in your partner kisses Indian men then kiss you after that

Wouldn't be much of a partner doing that.

Unless you mean a rental.

Every single subsequent version of Covid has become weaker and less lethal. I am infinitely more concerned about catching the flu, than getting Covid.

At this stage, it is simply a historical nightmare. No need to raise a lot of fear over this.

On 1/26/2026 at 5:58 AM, Jim Waldron said:

Thailand's initiative doesn't just benefit Thais, it will potentially benefit many other countries as well by peventing the virus from entering and potentially being carried abroad as these visitors return home.

Indeed.

I was here in 2002 and it was prompt preventative action by Thailand and other Asian hubs that prevented the disease from spreading further afield.

Not such an easy task these days as seen with covid.

On 1/26/2026 at 3:15 AM, Georgealbert said:

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Sunday, 25 January 2026, that the tightened controls were necessary because there is neither a cure nor a vaccine for the Nipah virus.

The anti- vaxers will be over the moon.

1 hour ago, PJ71 said:

As a youngster i don't remember such carry on over basically what is only flu.

There is no need to present false information. It will not change the reality. Nipah virus is in no way the "flu". Nipah is a zoonotic virus and is not an influenza virus. There is a high likelihood of death because it is difficult to detect until the patient has an advanced infection. and there is no effective treatment. The flu does not have the 40-75% mortality rate of Nipah. it is not a nice way to go. The patients who die typically develop encephalitis, which in turn induces seizures, comas and strokes which are often fatal. Those who do recover can be left with permanent brain damage that results in behavioral changes.

On 1/26/2026 at 4:23 AM, jts-khorat said:

This one can indeed by a nasty virus.

What I take away from this: don't nibble on fruits that a bat has shat on. Don't go around kissing Indian men.

Seems not too difficult.

What is funny about this, we certainly have some very strange people on this forum

The announcement by the government is more for show, to prevent panic. The number of cases is insignificant so far, and Indian Public health intervention is pretty good. The only effective way to prevent its spread is through quarantines. This is how the spread has been stopped in previous outbreaks in India and Bangladesh. Infected people were not allowed to travel or move about and infect others.

The passengers need to be screened before they get on the aircraft, not after. The disease is difficult to detect until the patient presents with symptoms, and by then it is often too late to help. Unfortunately, the Thai screening is going to be after a planeload of people arriving from Bangladesh or India have been sitting for 5+ hours with a potentially infected person. Once the numbers warrant, either ask the Indian and Bangladeshi health authorities to screen patients before they board the aircraft or suspend air service.

On 1/26/2026 at 4:23 AM, jts-khorat said:

This one can indeed by a nasty virus.

What I take away from this: don't nibble on fruits that a bat has shat on. Don't go around kissing Indian men.

Seems not too difficult.

On 1/26/2026 at 4:23 AM, jts-khorat said:

This one can indeed by a nasty virus.

What I take away from this: don't nibble on fruits that a bat has shat on. Don't go around kissing Indian men.

Seems not too difficult.

I failnto see what is funny about this, we certainly have some stupid people on this forum.

On 1/26/2026 at 3:15 AM, Georgealbert said:

Thailand has reinstated Covid-style screening measures

Not masks again!

The pro-mask brigade will be having a field day!

Fortunately I have no current plans to visit Thailand with its virus paranoia. You can keep your Nipah virus!

No further comment from me.

8 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Fortunately I have no current plans to visit Thailand

You won't be missed

54 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Every single subsequent version of Covid has become weaker and less lethal. I am infinitely more concerned about catching the flu, than getting Covid.

At this stage, it is simply a historical nightmare. No need to raise a lot of fear over this.

The topic is not about covid. It's about another deadly disease from India .

6 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

As easy as that sounds - that also implies you should avoid women who have been in contact with Indian men - and that is a large percentage of Pattaya at the present. 100% the first cases in Thailand will be discovered there assuming they keep encouraging Indians to come.

So that also means "NO"

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Every single subsequent version of Covid has become weaker and less lethal. I am infinitely more concerned about catching the flu, than getting Covid.

At this stage, it is simply a historical nightmare. No need to raise a lot of fear over this.

Totally ignorant comment, no cure for this if you get it. High chance of death.

Google says it’s “ Airborne “, so who’s right?

Why hasn’t the Medical Adviser to the Government commented?

Just a thought

We don't need those bad bats pissing on our bananas.

No disrespect to them, but there are too many of them, like the Chinese in previous times. Crowds of them standing around and blocking sidewalks, a dozen or more taking up all the outdoor tables at my condo and chain smoking in huge clouds, smoking around other diners, yes, I don’t smoke and I have asthma, and there are smoking areas which they ignore. I can’t even go down there to sit any more, and I’ve lived there 9 years. And a lot of them are just clueless dumba$$ tourists sporting their gold and rolex watches, and whining when they get beaten or robbed by ladyboys.

Prevention better than cure everytime in my opinion. Smart heads-up move by the Thai’s.