Australia's Minister of Health stated that the government is monitoring the Nipah virus situation daily, although no changes have been made to the measures for handling sick passengers. He also warned that the virus has a fatality rate as high as 40-75%.
On 29 January 2026, Mark Butler, Australia's Minister of Health, announced that the Australian government is closely tracking the spread of the Nipah virus, taking the risk very seriously amid concerns after cases were reported in India in December 2025.
Butler revealed that Australia already has clear disease control measures for incoming travelers and that there are currently no recommendations to change these protocols. However, the government is monitoring the situation daily.
Reports indicate that nearly 200 close contacts of the infected individual in India have not shown symptoms. The Nipah virus was first discovered in Malaysia in 1999; it originates from bats and can spread to other animals and humans, including through contaminated food and fruit. Officials say human-to-human transmission is rare, but if infected, the fatality rate is high, ranging from 40-75%.
The Nipah virus is primarily found in several Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Singapore. Viral signs have also been detected in bats in Indonesia and some parts of Africa, including Ghana. Currently, no vaccine exists to prevent Nipah virus infection. Australia's disease control center advises travelers to affected areas to strictly follow hygiene practices and avoid contact with animals, especially bats and monkeys.
Source: 9news.com.au