Vietnam’s Khanh Hoa tightens border controls to prevent Nipah virus entry

The provincial People’s Committee on Thursday announced that police, border guards, and Cam Ranh International Terminal JSC are working closely with the health sector to enforce strict quarantine measures.

Authorities have increased control over incoming passengers, vehicles, and goods, focusing particularly on travelers arriving from high-risk areas, including countries that have previously recorded Nipah virus cases.

Facilities, medical equipment, and designated health screening areas are arranged to ensure readiness.

Earlier, the provincial Department of Health issued a dispatch requiring relevant units to strengthen surveillance and proactively implement disease prevention and control measures.

Le Van Tung, head of the Khanh Hoa International Health Quarantine Center, said the unit has intensified medical monitoring to prevent the potential entry of the Nipah virus through border gates.

At Cam Ranh International Airport, the center installed seven thermal scanners in the arrival area. Medical quarantine staff remain on duty 24 hours a day to monitor and screen all international arrivals.

Public health advisory boards are placed throughout the terminal to guide passengers in self-monitoring their health and promptly notifying medical staff if they show unusual symptoms.

“For passengers arriving from outbreak areas or showing suspected symptoms of Nipah virus infection, quarantine forces will move them to a temporary isolation area to collect epidemiological iìnormation," Tung said.

“If necessary, they will be transferred to the nearest medical facility for monitoring and testing, and relevant authorities will be notified."

Enhanced monitoring is also in place at seaports including Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Van Phong, and Ninh Thuan, with coordination among port authorities, shipping companies, border guards, and customs to prevent disease entry via maritime routes.

According to the Ministry of Health, Nipah virus is classified as a Group A infectious disease, transmitted from animals to humans or via contaminated food.

It can cause severe encephalitis and pneumonia, with a hospital case fatality rate of 40-75 percent.