Operators at Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport have installed thermal scanners to monitor passengers' body temperatures in a bid to prevent the spread of the Nipah virus, which is emerging abroad. Although the virus has not been detected in Indonesia, the Deputy Minister of Health emphasizes the need for early vigilance. Health experts recommend clean and healthy living behaviors as the primary prevention measure, given the lack of a vaccine.
The Nipah virus, identified since 1998 with a high mortality rate despite fewer than 1,000 global cases, has drawn international attention due to recent reports from India that prompted a local lockdown. Thailand, as a transit hub, has also heightened its alerts. In Indonesia, Deputy Minister of Health Benyamin Paulus Octavianus confirmed that as of January 29, 2026, the virus has not entered the country.
"Indeed, up to today, it hasn't reached Indonesia," Benyamin stated. "The number of cases worldwide hasn't reached 1,000. So, it hasn't reached Indonesia."
In response, operators at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Badung, Bali, collaborated with the Denpasar Class I Health Quarantine Center to install thermal scanners in international and domestic arrival areas. Passenger body temperature monitoring began on Thursday, January 29, 2026, to detect early symptoms.
With no vaccine available, prevention relies on clean and healthy living behaviors (PHBS). Prof. Dr. dr. Dominicus Husada from the Indonesian Pediatric Society explained, "In general, PHBS is universal. The key is to clean everything that sticks, that's not from us; washing hands with running water is best, using soap."
He added that handwashing before eating or after contact can clear saliva of the virus. "If you wash hands with running water and soap, the saliva is clean. That eliminates the risk of getting Nipah... So, I think if we wash our hands well, we won't get it."
Additionally, thoroughly cleaning fruits, vegetables, and other foods is recommended to reduce contamination from animals or the environment. These efforts highlight Indonesia's commitment to safeguarding borders against global infectious threats.
