The Banten provincial government has reactivated health surveillance to prevent Nipah virus entry via Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, amid reports of cases in India. Coordination with quarantine authorities is tightening checks on passengers from endemic areas. No confirmed Nipah virus cases have been reported in Indonesia to date.
On Tuesday (January 27, 2026), Ati Pramudji Hastuti, Head of the Banten Provincial Health Department, stated that active surveillance has been reactivated, focusing on Soekarno-Hatta International Airport as a major entry point. “Surveilans aktif baru di-alert, dinyalakan. Surveilans seperti apa? Ini kan kita menggunakan Bandara Soekarno-Hatta yang sering jadi pintu masuk,” Ati said in Serang city.
Surveillance is coordinated with the Soekarno-Hatta Main Quarantine Health Office (BBKK). All passengers, especially from endemic areas like India, will undergo initial health screenings, similar to Covid-19 protocols. “Nah, semua orang-orang yang datang, terutama dari daerah-daerah endemis, tentu akan dilakukan skrining. Sama halnya seperti (menghadapi) Covid-19,” Ati explained. However, specific procedures for Nipah virus are being developed due to its differences from Covid-19.
Naning Nugrahini, Head of BBKK Soekarno-Hatta, detailed enhanced monitoring via the Olimnesia system, including pre-arrival health declarations. Checks cover travel history over the past 21 days and flight profiles from affected countries. “Kalau ada dari negara-negara terjangkit, misalnya sekarang lagi ramai di India, maka kita punya profil pesawat yang direct flight dari India ke Jakarta. Dari situ kita lihat apakah ada orang bergejala atau tidak,” Naning revealed.
Screening posts are equipped with thermal scanners and visual inspections. Coordination extends to animal quarantine to prevent transmission from animals like bats, monkeys, and pigs. Advice is given for clean living habits, such as peeling and washing fruits.
According to WHO reports as of January 23, 2025, there are two confirmed cases and three suspected cases of Nipah virus in West Bengal, India, with no deaths reported. Nipah virus, part of the Paramyxovirus group, attacks the lungs and brain, causing symptoms like fever, headache, drowsiness, confusion, and coma, with a fatality rate exceeding 40 percent. Kemenkes spokesperson Widyawati confirmed no cases in Indonesia. Local authorities continue coordinating with the central government to maintain readiness amid high airport traffic.
