Nipah virus: Bali tourist to be screened for deadly disease

At least two people have died from the virus in Kerala while authorities trace hundreds of people who came into contact with infected patients.

Nipah virus can lead to acute respiratory infection and fatal encephalitis, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said. Symptoms include fever, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting and sore throat.

The virus has a high death rate estimated between 40 to 70 per cent based on outbreaks from 1998 to 2018.

Bali is a popular tourism destination for Indian travellers with more than 33,000 people visiting in August 2023. Almost four times as many Australians visited Bali in the same month.

Head of the Bali Provincial Health Service, I Nyoman Gee Anom said that "temperature detection devices are in place" at airports and tourists with high temperatures would be transported to hospital for assessment.

"Especially for Nipah Virus, a team of neurologists, surgeons, and so on have been prepared because the virus can attack the brain."

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The virus had not been detected in Bali and officials intended to uphold safety practices, he said.

"We must maintain vigilance due to the incubation period, which may mean a lack of fever upon arrival at the airport," he said.

The WHO said there is no current treatment for Nipah virus.

"Intensive supportive care is recommended to treat severe respiratory and neurologic complications," WHO said.