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THE Kelantan State Health Department (JKNK) has stationed health officers at major entry points, including the Rantau Panjang, Bukit Bunga, and Pengkalan Kubor Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security (ICQS) complexes, to carry out routine health screenings aimed at preventing the introduction of the Nipah virus into the state.
Datuk Dr Mohd Azman Yacob, director of JKNK, confirmed that the initiative has been in operation for the past week following an advisory from the Ministry of Health (KKM).
Approximately 120 health personnel, including medical officers, assistant environmental health officers, and nurses, have been assigned to the three ICQS entry points on a rotational basis throughout operational hours.
“The screenings currently being conducted are standard procedures, such as body temperature checks,” he said. “If any individual arrives from a country other than Thailand, we will conduct interviews and carry out more detailed health assessments on them.”
The screenings complement measures already in place at Sultan Ismail Petra Airport (LTSIP) in Pengkalan Chepa, where incoming passengers from Singapore are also being monitored.
Dr Mohd Azman noted that, to date, reports from the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that Nipah virus transmission has been detected in India, but no cases have been recorded in Malaysia, including Kelantan.
“These preventive actions are purely precautionary, ensuring we remain vigilant against any potential threat to public health,” he said during the launch of the “Sihat Itu Saya” health awareness programme in Kota Bharu today. - February 1, 2026
