Indian Tourist Visits Are Quite High, Bali Health Office Asks Hospitals And Health Centers To Be Prepared For Nipah Virus

Head of the Bali Provincial Health Office, Dr. Dr. I Nyoman Gede Anom, on an occasion in Denpasar. BETWEEN/Ni Luh Rhismawati.

Head of the Bali Provincial Health Office, I Nyoman Gede Anom, asked all hospitals and health centers to increase preparedness for the threat of the Nipah Virus amid a fairly high visit by Indian tourists to the Island of the Gods. "In accordance with the direction from the Ministry of Health (Ministry of Health), we must be aware of the threat of the Nipah Virus," said Anom in Denpasar, as reported by Antara, Sunday, October 8. His party has coordinated with the Port Health Office (KKP) to examine everyone who comes to Bali, especially from an endemic country for the Nipah Virus case. Based on data from the Bali Provincial Tourism Office, from January to August 2023, it was recorded that tourists from India were foreign tourists with the second most visits to Bali with a total of 288,873 visits. "At the airport, there is already a temperature detection device. If the temperature of the tourist's body is found above normal, it will be followed up with interviews," he said. Anom added that if it is found that those who come from the endemic state of the Nipah Virus have a fever and accompanied by Acute Respiratory Channel Infections (ARI) must be referred to the hospital for a more complete analysis. "Especially for Birus Nipah, a team of neuroscientists, internal surgeons, and so on have been prepared, because this virus has been attacked by brain parts," he said. He said that currently the Nipah virus has not been detected entering Indonesia and his party hopes that it will not enter Indonesia, especially Bali. "But we have to be vigilant because many Indian tourists go to Bali. I'm afraid, because the incubation period is there, maybe at the airport there is no fever," he said. Therefore, in addition to hospitals, his party has also sent letters to all health centers and clinics if they find tourists from the Nipah Virus endemic area who experience ISPA, they must be referred to the hospital. "We also have to report to the Ministry of Health if a Nipah Virus case is found, later a team from the Ministry of Health will re-check the patient's brain fluids," he said.

This Nipah virus in addition to being transmitted from animals (warves and pigs) to humans is also transmitted from human to human. The method of transmission can be through contact with urine, saliva, specimens or contaminated food.