Vietnam reports no Nipah cases, tightens border controls

The foreign ministry's spokesperson Pham Thu Hang told reporters at a regular press briefing that Vietnam is working with local authorities to enhance monitoring at border gates, medical facilities, and communities, ensuring readiness for any outbreak scenario.

“Vietnamese agencies will continue to closely follow developments, coordinate with WHO and other countries, and promptly implement effective measures against the Nipah virus,” Hang said.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health instructed hospitals and provincial health departments nationwide to intensify surveillance and infection control measures.

According to the Vietnam Administration of Disease Prevention, Nipah is classified as a Group A infectious disease, considered extremely dangerous with a fatality rate ranging from 40 to 75 percent.

Currently, there is no vaccine or specific treatment for the viral infection.

The pathogen is primarily transmitted from animals to humans, often through contact with infected animals, or consumption of contaminated food.

Human-to-human transmission can also occur through direct contact with bodily fluids or secretions of infected individuals.

To prevent possible foodborne transmission of the Nipah virus, the Vietnam Food Administration under the Ministry of Health on Thursday requested that provincial health departments, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety, and local food safety agencies ensure food hygiene and safety as part of disease prevention efforts.

In addition to Vietnam, several countries have already implemented strict border health checks to prevent Nipah’s spread.