Colombo (LNW): A full investigation is currently underway on the risk of Nipah virus entering Sri Lanka via imports of food items, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera disclosed.
Speaking to media, the Minister noted that the relevant departments have been informed about the investigation.
Accordingly, imports of food items including eggs are being surveilled for any potential risk of carrying the virus into the island, he emphasised.
Nipah is known as a bat-borne, zoonotic virus that causes the Nipah virus infection in humans and other animals, a disease with a high mortality rate.
Despite the authorities’ affirmation on the risk of the virus breaching Sri Lanka being very low, the public is highly concerned, given that it had spread across the state of Kerala, India several times in the past.
