ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — The threat of the Nipah virus is once again looming over Asia, raising alarms among health authorities across the region.
Although Indonesia has not yet recorded any human cases, the country cannot afford complacency.
The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has confirmed that the virus is already circulating in Indonesia’s natural environment, posing a latent risk of a deadly outbreak if left unaddressed.
Niluh Putu Indi Dharmayanti, Principal Researcher in Virology and Head of the Health Research Organization at BRIN, stated that the Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly dangerous zoonotic pathogen with a high fatality rate and far-reaching consequences, extending beyond public health to social and economic stability.
“Nipah virus has a very high mortality rate and the potential to cause major outbreaks if widespread human transmission occurs,” Indi said on Friday, January 30, 2026.
A Regional Asian Threat, Indonesia Is Not Immune
First identified during an outbreak in Malaysia in 1998, the Nipah virus has since caused repeated outbreaks in South and Southeast Asia. This pattern places Asia at the center of global Nipah virus risk, including Indonesia, whose ecological conditions closely resemble those of affected countries.
Nipah virus belongs to the Henipavirus genus, with fruit bats from the Pteropodidae family—particularly the Pteropus genus—as its natural reservoir. These bats can carry the virus without showing symptoms, yet play a critical role in transmitting it to other animals and humans.
Human infection can occur through direct contact with infected animals such as pigs, consumption of food contaminated with bat urine or saliva, and in some outbreaks, human-to-human transmission.
Scientific Evidence: The Virus Is Already Present in Indonesia
BRIN revealed that multiple scientific studies have confirmed the presence of Nipah virus in Indonesia’s wildlife. A serological study in West Kalimantan detected Nipah virus antibodies in approximately 19 percent of serum samples from Pteropus vampyrus bats, although no infection was found in pigs.
Molecular detection using PCR methods on bat saliva and urine samples in North Sumatra further confirmed the presence of the Nipah virus genome.
Subsequent research identified a closely related virus in Pteropus hypomelanus bats in Java, with genetic similarities to strains found in Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries.
“This confirms that Nipah virus has been circulating naturally in Indonesia, even though no human cases have been reported so far,” Indi explained.
Ecological and Structural Risk Factors
According to BRIN, Indonesia’s ecological landscape significantly increases the risk of Nipah virus spillover. Key factors include high bat biodiversity, close proximity between wildlife habitats and human settlements, hunting and wildlife trade practices, and poorly sanitized animal markets.
Large pig populations in certain regions further elevate cross-species transmission risk, given the historical role of pigs as intermediate hosts in previous Nipah outbreaks.
“Intensive interaction between humans, animals, and the environment is the main driver behind zoonotic diseases such as Nipah,” Indi stressed.
No Vaccine, Prevention Is the Only Shield
Currently, there is no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Nipah virus infection. Clinical management relies largely on supportive care, making prevention and early detection the most critical defenses against a potential outbreak.
BRIN has called for strengthened active surveillance among wildlife, domestic animals, and humans, as well as expanded diagnostic capacity across the country.
Early detection is considered essential to preventing widespread transmission should the virus spill over into human populations.
The One Health approach—integrating human health, animal health, and environmental monitoring—has been identified as Indonesia’s primary preparedness strategy against Nipah virus.
Indonesia Urged to Prepare for a Potential Outbreak
BRIN hopes that its research findings will inform national policy on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Strengthening research, surveillance systems, and outbreak preparedness is seen as vital to ensuring Indonesia is ready to respond swiftly and effectively.
“This threat is real. Measured and science-based preparedness is essential to prevent Indonesia from becoming the next outbreak hotspot in Asia,” Indi concluded. (AT Network)
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