Feb 03, Kathmandu - Surveillance has been increased at the western border posts connected to India to prevent the spread of the virus to Nepal after the Nipah virus was detected in India.

Hemraj Joshi, Vector Control Inspector of the Sudurpaschim Health Directorate, informed that surveillance has been increased on passengers entering Nepal at five border posts in the Far West connected to India. According to him, surveillance is being carried out from the health desks at the Gauriphanta and Khakrauna checkpoints in Kailali, Khalanga in Darchula, Jhulaghat in Baitadi, and Gaddachauki checkpoints in Kanchanpur.

‘Caution has been taken at all the health desks at the checkpoints,’ Joshi said. ‘Employees working at the health desks have also been given orientation about the Nipah virus.’ He said that isolation wards built during the COVID-19 pandemic have been kept ready.

Since the Nipah virus was detected in West Bengal, India, health workers say that the risk of its spread is higher at the checkpoints in eastern Nepal than in western Nepal. Chief of the District Health Office, Dipendra Singh Rawal, said that work is being done to monitor passengers showing symptoms of infection through health desks set up at the checkpoints.

Chief Rawal said that arrangements have been made for treatment at the Mahakali Provincial Hospital in Mahendranagar. He said that since the Nipah virus is transmitted through bats, pigs and infected people, preventive measures have been adopted with special attention to those channels.