“Nipah disease must be monitored closely because the virus can infect humans with a high fatality rate,” said Agus Syah, head of the Pangkalpinang office, on Saturday.
Agus explained that extreme cold weather in several countries is driving migratory species to warmer regions, including Indonesia.
He noted that dozens of birds from Russia recently arrived in East Java, underscoring how wildlife movements across borders may heighten risks.
He cautioned that bats from affected countries could enter Indonesia’s tropical forests, where local bat populations might serve as hosts for the virus.
“Indonesia has many bat species, which could serve as hosts for the Nipah virus due to migration from infected birds abroad,” he said.
Although suspected Nipah cases were reported in Indonesia in 2025—in Riau, West Kalimantan, and North Sulawesi—all tested negative.
Still, Agus emphasized that Indonesia’s equatorial climate makes it a likely stopover for migratory wildlife, requiring close monitoring to prevent potential outbreaks.
Former WHO Southeast Asia Communicable Disease Director Prof. Tjandra Yoga Aditama has urged Indonesia to adopt preventive measures similar to those already implemented in neighboring countries.
Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore have introduced safeguards to reduce the risk of Nipah transmission.
The Nipah virus, which has recently spread in India, can cause severe respiratory illness and brain inflammation in humans. Prof. Tjandra warned that Indonesia must anticipate the possibility of human-to-human transmission, as observed in India, and strengthen preparedness accordingly.
Translator: Aprionis, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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