SINGAPORE'S RESPONSE TO NIPAH VIRUS INFECTIONS

NOTICE PAPER NO. 474

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 12 FEBRUARY 2026

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Ms Joan Pereira

MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC

Question No. 1376

To ask the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health in view of the Nipah virus (NiV) high case fatality rate (CFR), whether the Ministry will (i) require health declarations and conduct screening of passengers arriving from or who have recently been in high-risk areas at our ports of entry and (ii) provide healthcare advisories and information to doctors and the public.

Answer

1.       The Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) issued a press release on our responses to the Nipah virus infections in West Bengal, India on 28 January 2026.

2.       Since then, we have further issued clinical guidance to all medical practitioners, conducted an educational webinar for primary care doctors, adjusted the electronic Health Declaration Card for all incoming travellers and activated temperature screening for travellers arriving on ships from affected areas. The Ministry of Manpower has also disseminated CDA’s announcements on precautionary health measures to migrant workers and migrant domestic workers as well as to employers, dormitory operators and employment agencies.

3.       CDA is monitoring the situation in India and globally closely and we will adjust our measures as needed based on the evolving risks that are developing.