At Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, health and quarantine measures have been intensified following reports of new Nipah virus cases abroad. Arrival areas are being monitored “strictly and meticulously” in coordination with the health and quarantine service of the Ministry of Health in Denpasar.
The key measure is thermal scanners for monitoring passengers' temperatures. Four devices have been placed at the airport: two in the international arrival area, one in the domestic arrival area, and another on standby in the VIP terminal. If a passenger shows signs similar to early symptoms (such as fever), they will be handed over to quarantine medics and sent for examination at the central state hospital Prof. dr. I.G.N.G Ngoerah in Denpasar.
Special attention is given to flights and passenger traffic from India. On average, around 500–600 passengers a day pass through the airport on the 'Indian' route, and in January 2026, 19,635 people have already been counted on the Bali–India route.
The reason for heightened measures is reports of Nipah cases in India. On 29 January 2026, WHO announced that two cases of infection were confirmed this month in West Bengal.
Nipah is a zoonotic infection: fruit bats are the natural reservoir, and infection is possible from animals, contaminated food, and (less commonly) human to human. The estimated fatality rate in various outbreaks ranges from 40–75%. There are no vaccines or specific treatments; supportive therapy is used.
The airport administration also urged passengers to monitor their health and immediately contact airport staff or the health and quarantine service if their condition worsens.
Sources: en.antaranews.com, nusabali.com
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