January 26, 2026, at 1350hrs, Government Spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat disclosed that Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul instructed Ministry of Public Health’s Department of Disease Control and other relevant agencies to closely monitor and follow up on the Nipah virus outbreak situation, following a report released earlier this week that confirmed 5 new infections and over 180 close contacts in West Bengal, Republic of India.

Although the Nipah virus outbreak has yet to be detected in Thailand, the Prime Minister ordered the intensification of surveillance and screening at international communicable disease control checkpoints across the country, especially 3 international airports, namely, Suvarnabhumi, Don Maung, and Phuket.

According to the Government Spokesperson, the Prime Minister has placed emphasis on disease surveillance and proactive risk management, and instructed the Department of Disease Control to work together with other relevant agencies and airports to implement screening measures for passengers traveling from India from January 25, 2026 onward.

The Prime Minister also ordered for the preparedness of public health system, including personnel, medical supplies, and response strategies for potential future outbreaks. Risk assess management is also carried out through close coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant international agencies to appropriately intensify surveillance measures if needed.

Although Thailand is currently free from theNipah virus outbreak, the Government has continued to beef up monitoring measures. If individuals are found to have symptoms consistent with the Nipah disease, additional screening will be conducted at international communicable disease control checkpoints, and immediate action will be taken in accordance with established protocols. As there is not yet any specific medicine or vaccines for the disease, the Government urges the public to closely follow up on the updates from relevant Government agencies, and avoid contact with carrier animals or travel to areas where the outbreaks occur.

Nipah virus infection is classified as dangerous communicable disease under the Communicable Disease Act B.E. 2558, which requires immediate reporting upon detection of suspected cases. This infection is zoonotic from exposure to contaminated secretions or tissues of infected bats, and subsequent human-to-human transmission of Nipah virus occurs via close contact with NiV-infected persons or exposure to NiV-infected body fluids, such as blood and saliva. Infected people develop symptoms that include high fever, pneumonia, encephalitis, and seizures. Fatality rate is reported to be between 40–75%, which is several times higher than that of COVID-19.