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THE SOEKARNO-Hatta International Airport (Soetta) Health Quarantine Center (BBKK) in Tangerang has stepped up supervision of incoming international travelers to prevent potential Nipah virus cases.
“Whether there is a virus or not, we already have an olimnesia system. Within that system, there is a health declaration,” said Head of BBKK Soetta Airport Naning Nugrahini here on Tuesday (01/21), 2026.
“So, before arriving in Indonesia, travelers are asked to fill out a health status to determine their physical condition,” she added.
She said that strengthening supervision and health screening would be dynamically adjusted to follow current developments.
The implementation of the main health protocols that will currently be in effect includes requiring airlines to conduct initial health checks at the point of departure and to check the health status of every air traveler.
“Then, in the last 21 days, we checked which countries they had flown to. Based on the pre-flight data, we can summarize or determine the health profile of passengers on each flight arriving in Indonesia,” she explained.
Air travelers entering Indonesia will be closely monitored. However, if they show symptoms of Nipah virus infection, they must comply with health guidelines.
“We have a profile of aircraft that fly direct from India to Jakarta. If there are (passengers) from affected countries, for example from India, with this data, we will know which passengers are likely to show symptoms of the virus,” she said.
“If there are (passengers with symptoms of the virus infection), officers will board for boarding and further examination,” she added.
Nugrahini said that airport authorities have currently set up a number of special checkpoints in the flight terminal area, which are equipped with thermal scanners. Health officers also conducted visual inspections of the flight passengers.
“So, the system is already in place and continues to be implemented because every country can have closed-loop infectious diseases that have the potential to cause outbreaks,” she continued.
Nugrahini admitted that no cases of Nipah virus transmission have been detected in Indonesia to date. However, the BBKK Soetta Airport remains on alert and is strengthening surveillance for any outbreak.
“Until today, from our monitoring, we have not found anyone showing signs and symptoms of the virus/disease,” she affirmed.
They have also coordinated with animal quarantine authorities in an effort to prevent Nipah disease which originates from animals such as bats, monkeys and pigs.
“We urge all travelers to maintain a clean and healthy lifestyle. When eating fruit, we urge you to peel it first and wash it thoroughly. This is to maintain a healthy balance,” she concluded.
Previously, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health agencies stated that the Nipah virus can attack the lungs and brain.
Symptoms of the virus include fever, headache, drowsiness, confusion, and coma, with a mortality rate exceeding 40% among infected patients. [antaranews/photo special]
