Nipah virus outbreak in India triggers Asia airport screenings
A recent Nipah virus outbreak in India’s West Bengal state, with two confirmed cases, has prompted several Asian countries to implement airport screenings for travelers from affected areas. Indian officials state the situation is contained, with nearly 200 contacts tested negative.
Two cases were confirmed in West Bengal, leading to rapid deployment of a national response team including experts from NIV Pune and NCDC. No new cases reported, and 196 contacts traced and cleared, countering media speculation on higher numbers. The virus, bat-borne with 40-75% fatality rate, spreads via contaminated food or close contact.
Thailand screens passengers from West Bengal at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and Phuket airports using thermal scanners, health declarations, and symptom checks; over 1,700 screened with no positives. Nepal intensified checks at Kathmandu airport and India border crossings.
Indonesia and Myanmar added temperature checks and travel advisories against nonessential trips to West Bengal. Taiwan plans to classify Nipah as a top-tier disease for mandatory reporting, while China bolsters border surveillance. These measures draw from COVID-era protocols but focus on symptomatic detection, as asymptomatic spread is rare.
