Answer for Oral Question PL158

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Dayang Chong Chin Yee

YANG BERHORMAT DAYANG CHONG CHIN YEE asked the MENTERI KESIHATAN to state the Ministry’s level of preparedness in dealing with any viral outbreak such as Nipah, in terms of early clinical detection and hospital preparedness. Can this preparedness information be shared with the public to enhance transparency and public understanding?

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Kesihatan

The Ministry of Health continuously conducts risk assessments of zoonotic diseases such as the Nipah virus. These assessments use standard tools aligned with international practices, taking into account the regional situation, global developments and local risk factors.

The Ministry also maintains close contact with the WHO Country Office and regional partners to obtain updated information on outbreak developments in other countries. Internally, the current status and risk assessments are presented regularly to ensure that the leadership and relevant agencies remain informed.

As a proactive measure, in January 2026, the Ministry issued a media statement on the risk of the introduction of the Nipah virus into Brunei Darussalam, to inform the public about the current situation and the necessary precautions to be taken.

Response plans are continuously updated based on risk assessments, past experience and simulation exercises. This ensures that the system remains relevant and prepared before an incident occurs.

The country’s technical capabilities include clinical and syndromic surveillance for the early detection of suspected cases, immediate notification mechanisms and the activation of public health responses, laboratory capacity for detection and referral, as well as hospital preparedness, including isolation areas and infection control protocols.

The Ministry recognises that zoonotic diseases constitute an ongoing threat. Therefore, the One Health approach continues to be strengthened through the National Joint Taskforce for Zoonotic Diseases. The latest activity was the Zoonotic Disease Prioritisation workshop, which involved the human health, animal health, environment and food safety sectors, to ensure that national priorities are determined based on risk.

The Ministry is committed to sharing relevant information with the public, particularly regarding the level of risk and preventive measures, to enhance public understanding and confidence.

Overall, through continuous risk assessments, the updating of response plans and the strengthening of the One Health approach, the country’s health system is prepared to face any zoonotic threat, including the Nipah virus.