Australian authorities are taking the possible threat from the deadly Nipah virus "very seriously", Health Minister Mark Butler says. He told Today this morning the federal government was monitoring the situation extremely closely after biosecurity measures for international travellers were tightened at Asian airports. Nipah virus is frequently fatal and can leave survivors with brain damage. The Nipah virus is chiefly found in south-east Asian countries including Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Singapore, though signs of the virus in bats have also been found in Indonesia and as far flung as Ghana. While there is no Nipah virus vaccination, the Australian Centre for Disease Control advises travellers heading to places where the disease has been detected to take steps to protect themselves.