Malaysia continues to remain free of the Nipah virus, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) confirmed today, amid reports of human cases in West Bengal, India.
DVS, the agency responsible for animal health and the prevention of zoonotic diseases, said it is maintaining heightened vigilance to prevent the entry and spread of the virus in the country.
“Malaysia is currently free from Nipah, but we remain alert and cautious to prevent any risk of introduction and transmission,” the department stated.
The agency conducts continuous monitoring through annual surveillance in domestic and wild pigs, testing for early signs of the virus.
In 2025, over 2,000 domestic pig samples and 48 wild pig samples were tested, all yielding negative results. DVS also regulates pork imports, allowing only products from Nipah-free countries.
Flying foxes have been identified as the natural host of the virus, while pigs serve as amplifying hosts, which could increase transmission risks to humans and other animals if biosecurity measures are not strictly enforced.
DVS is strengthening preparedness measures, including surveillance of flying fox populations. The department highlighted clinical signs of Nipah in pigs, which may include respiratory issues such as coughing and nasal discharge, fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, neurological symptoms including uncoordinated movement, tremors and seizures and high infection rates in farms even if mortality remains low to moderate.
Farmers are advised to remain alert, particularly those with orchards nearby and to minimise factors that attract bats, maintain high biosecurity standards and report any suspicious illness among livestock.
“Nipah is a notifiable disease in Malaysia. All farmers and the public must report any suspected cases to DVS immediately,” the department emphasised.
DVS assured the public that Malaysia’s Nipah-free status is actively monitored and protected through ongoing prevention and preparedness efforts and urged people to rely on official sources for information.
The department also encouraged stakeholders, especially pig farmers, to stay informed about developments in animal diseases and report any clinical signs to the nearest Veterinary Services Office or via the hotline.
History Fact
A total of 754 Nipah virus (NiV) cases with 435 deaths have been reported globally since 1998 until May 2024, representing a fatality rate of 58 per cent.
Most recently, on Jan 27, 2026, India reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) two confirmed NiV cases in West Bengal involving healthcare workers. On 3 February 2026, Bangladesh reported one confirmed case involving a 45-year-old woman with a history of consuming raw date palm sap. To date, no new cases have been reported globally.
In Malaysia, no new Nipah cases have been reported since the outbreak was successfully contained in 1999.
Based on current risk assessments and global developments, the Ministry of Health (MOH) had previously activated alert mode and implemented targeted health screening at International Points of Entry following reports of cases in affected countries.
Between Jan 29 and Feb 22, 2026, nearly six million travellers were screened, including 123,103 from affected countries. However, no cases meeting the NiV case definition were detected in Malaysia.
After two incubation periods passed without any detected cases, and in the absence of evidence of cross-border transmission into Malaysia, the MOH reassessed its preparedness level and agreed to downgrade the response status from alert mode to watch mode.
Alert mode refers to a higher level of preparedness with additional control measures implemented when risk is assessed to be elevated, while watch mode indicates that the situation is under control but continuous monitoring and surveillance remain in place to promptly detect and respond to any change in risk.
