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Nipah outbreak in India triggers alarm: Sri Lanka urged to act before first human case

Published

2 weeks ago

2026/01/29

Professor Inoka C. Perera

Sri Lanka must urgently step up airport screening, hospital surveillance and public health preparedness following a deadly Nipah virus outbreak in India’s West Bengal state, health experts warn, as heavy regional travel begins ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays.

Five confirmed Nipah infections – all among healthcare workers – have been reported from a private hospital in Barasat, near Kolkata, with nearly 100 contacts placed under quarantine.

Several Asian jurisdictions, including Thailand, Nepal, Taiwan and Hong Kong, have already activated enhanced airport health screening protocols.

The warning for Sri Lanka is particularly stark: Nipah virus has already been detected in local flying fox (Mawavula) populations, confirming that the pathogen is present in the country’s wildlife.

“This means Nipah is not a distant threat. The virus exists here, and that changes the entire risk equation,” said Professor Inoka C. Perera, Principal Investigator of the IDEA Laboratory and IDEAnet project at the University of Colombo.

Unlike many previous outbreaks linked to direct bat-to-human transmission, the West Bengal cluster involves human-to-human spread inside a hospital, one of the most dangerous scenarios for outbreak escalation.

Indian health officials say the outbreak began after a patient with severe respiratory symptoms died before Nipah infection was identified. Two nurses who treated the patient in late December later tested positive. Three additional cases – including a doctor – were subsequently confirmed, all linked to the same facility. One nurse remains in critical condition.

Public health experts note that similar hospital-based transmission drove earlier outbreaks, including the 2001 Siliguri incident in India, where three-quarters of infections occurred among hospital staff and visitors.

Nipah virus is among the world’s most lethal zoonotic diseases, with fatality rates ranging from 40% to 75%. It can cause severe respiratory illness and acute encephalitis, often progressing rapidly to coma and death.

There is no approved vaccine and no specific cure. Treatment depends on intensive supportive care, while monoclonal antibodies – available only in limited quantities – must be given immediately after diagnosis. Delayed detection dramatically increases mortality and the risk of onward transmission.

Sri Lanka’s risk is heightened by frequent travel with India and the widespread presence of Pteropus fruit bats. However, scientists say the country has one critical advantage: advance warning.

He told The Island: “We know the virus is circulating in bats, but we have not yet seen human cases. That gives Sri Lanka a rare opportunity to prepare before lives are lost.”

The IDEA Laboratory, working with the Robert Koch Institute of Germany, has established RT-PCR diagnostic capacity for Nipah virus, trained healthcare professionals nationwide, and built a hospital-based surveillance network capable of early detection.

Health experts are calling for immediate measures, including: Health screening at international airports, particularly for arrivals from India, strengthened infection prevention and control protocols in hospitals, heightened surveillance for unexplained fever, respiratory illness and encephalitis, expanded monitoring of flying fox populations, clear public guidance on food safety and early symptom recognition.

The West Bengal outbreak is the first major Nipah incident in the state in nearly 20 years and has emerged near Kolkata, one of India’s most densely populated cities. With the virus capable of spreading person-to-person, experts stress that this is a regional health emergency, not a local anomaly.

Kerala’s experience has shown that swift diagnosis, strict isolation and aggressive contact tracing can contain Nipah outbreaks. Sri Lanka, scientists warn, must act before the first human case appears.

“Every day without a Nipah case is a chance to build defences,” Prof. Perera said. “Waiting until the virus reaches hospitals is a mistake we cannot afford.”

By Ifham Nizam

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Royal Navy of Oman Vessel “SADH” departs island

Published

4 hours ago

2026/02/13

Priyan

The Royal Navy of Oman Vessel “SADH” which arrived in Sri Lanka for replenishment purpose, departed the island on 12 Feb 26.

In accordance with naval tradition, the Sri Lanka Navy extended a customary farewell to the departing ship.

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“We will not make decisions for rural level schools while sitting in Colombo” – PM

Published

5 hours ago

2026/02/13

Priyan

The Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that aligning with the development activities carried out under the new education reforms, decisions at the rural level will not be taken from Colombo and plans should be sent based on the requirements of the rural level through the District Coordination Committees by structural committees. She further noted that all officials, from the Ministry of Education down to the school level, must commit to working efficiently and with a human-centered approach.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing a discussion held with education authorities of the Hambantota District on Thursday [February 12] at the auditorium of the Hambantota District Secretariat regarding the new education reforms and prevailing issues in the education sector.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister provided an opportunity for education authorities including chief prelates of pirivenas, zonal education directors, teacher advisors, and principals to present the challenges they face and officials raised concerns including salary disparities among principals, developing school infrastructure, issues arising from the division between national and provincial schools, and uplifting pirivena education.

Further elaborating, Prime Minister stated:

“The new education reforms were initiated from 2025 through dialogue, consultations, and the collection of necessary data. As officials, you have extended your support to us during this process. We have embarked on a difficult and long journey, and we look forward to your continued cooperation.

We initiated these reforms in response to a strong social demand. Many have attempted such reforms at different times. Within our political vision, we understood clearly that if this country is to be rebuilt, an educational transformation is essential. The human resource is the most valuable resource of this country and it should be nurtured properly.

Solutions to many of the crises our country faces lie within the education system. Addressing the issues in economic challenges, social issues, drug abuse, violence, the breakdown of political culture, corruption, waste, and even the deterioration of human relationships all lie within the education.

In order to achieve the transformation we envision as a government, that an education transformation is necessary.

This education system should focus on reducing the pressures within the system, minimize school dropouts, increase employability, and instill confidence in children about their future.

There are disparities within the school system, between rural and urban schools, national and provincial schools, and difficult schools. This should not happen. All children must have equal opportunities.
⁣
Decisions regarding the establishment of schools or expansion of classes should not be political decisions. They must be decisions taken through Structural Committees. Those representatives understand their divisions, village economies, and population dynamics. Based on your decisions and assessments of needs, prepare the plans, discuss them with the District Coordination Committees, and submit them to us. We will then take steps to provide the necessary allocations and other support. We will not make decisions for the rural level while sitting in Colombo.

We are taking steps to minimize salary disparities. A Cabinet paper regarding the salary anomalies of principals has already been prepared for submission. Steps are also being taken to introduce new reforms in pirivena education through the Pirivena Committee of the Ministry of Education. We require the support of the chief prelates in this regard.

A significant number of teachers turn to human rights due to delays caused by inefficiency. Therefore, all officials from the Ministry of Education down to the schools must commit to working efficiently and in a humane manner”

The discussion was attended by Chief prelates of pirivenas, deputy ministers, Members of Parliament, zonal directors, principals, and other education sector officials.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya

Published

9 hours ago

2026/02/13

Priyan

The Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya valid from 06:00 hrs on 13.02.2026 to 06:00 hrs on 14.02.2026

Accordingly,
Level II [AMBER] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Walapane and Nildandahinna in the Nuwara Eliya district.

Level I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Pathahewheta in the Kandy district.