Indonesia is tightening its defenses as concerns grow over the spread of the deadly Nipah virus. In Bali, heightened vigilance is now in place at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, where authorities are strengthening controls to prevent the virus from entering the island.
The move comes as Nipah virus cases continue to rise overseas. According to Gede Eka Sandi Asmadi, Head of the Communication and Legal Division of Angkasa Pura Indonesia at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, this situation has pushed airport authorities to step up monitoring of passengers arriving from abroad.
“We are intensively coordinating with the Class I Denpasar Center for Health Quarantine in conducting supervision within the airport environment. All personnel at the airport are committed to carrying out strict and comprehensive monitoring to prevent the transmission of the Nipah virus in the airport arrival area,” Sandi said on Thursday (29/1/2026).
Health screening is now a central focus at the airport. Passenger body temperatures are monitored using two thermal scanner units at international arrivals, one unit at domestic arrivals, and another unit placed at the VIP terminal to ensure coverage across all entry points.
When a passenger shows symptoms associated with the Nipah virus, follow up action is taken immediately. The Class I Center for Health Quarantine will refer the individual to Ngoerah Central General Hospital in Denpasar for further examination and treatment.
“For passengers traveling to and from the island of Bali, we urge you to continue maintaining your health and to always monitor the latest information related to the Nipah virus for our shared safety and comfort. For passengers who feel their health condition is declining and experience early symptoms of the Nipah virus such as fever, we urge you to immediately contact the nearest airport officer or health quarantine officers at the airport,” Sandi said.
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The heightened alert is particularly significant given the scale of activity at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. The airport is among the busiest in Indonesia for international travel, making it a critical point for disease prevention efforts.
Data from Angkasa Pura shows that the airport served 24.12 million passengers throughout 2025. Of this total, 15.17 million passengers, or about 63 percent, were international travelers. The remaining 8.94 million passengers, representing 37 percent, were domestic travelers.
On a monthly basis, passenger movement at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport averages around 2 million people. This translates to roughly 66,000 passenger movements each day, covering both arrivals and departures.
Route data further highlights the airport’s high traffic volume. Cengkareng recorded the highest number of passengers at 4.23 million, followed by Singapore with 2.69 million, Kuala Lumpur with 1.76 million, Surabaya with 1.31 million, and Melbourne with 1.15 million passengers.
