Airports in several Asian countries have stepped up health surveillance following confirmation of Nipah virus infections in India, prompting renewed regional surveillance. Thailand, Nepal and Taiwan have reintroduced Covid-era-style screening measures, including passenger tracking and symptom monitoring for travelers arriving from India.
The outbreak has also drawn attention in China ahead of the Lunar New Year travel rush, when millions of people are expected to travel domestically and internationally. While Chinese health experts have said the virus is unlikely to spread widely, concerns remain due to Nipah’s high mortality rate.
In India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has confirmed two cases of Nipah virus disease (NiVD) in West Bengal since December. The ministry said initial reports suggesting five cases, all involving healthcare workers, were speculative and incorrect.
The National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has traced 196 contacts linked to the confirmed cases, all of whom have been declared asymptomatic. Following the confirmation, the Centre, in coordination with the West Bengal government, initiated public health measures in accordance with laid down protocols, officials said.
Health experts have warned that the Nipah virus has a mortality rate ranging between 40 and 75 percent and that there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment. “The Nipah virus is highly infectious and deadly. Patients develop symptoms of encephalitis or severe respiratory illness, and the mortality rate is extremely high,” said an expert.
Treatment remains largely supportive, and monoclonal antibodies are only available in limited quantities. Indian authorities are working to ensure adequate supplies amid global shortages.
Nipah is a zoonotic virus that can be transmitted from animals such as fruit bats and pigs to humans, and also spreads through close person-to-person contact. Infection can occur through contaminated food, including raw date palm fruit or sap exposed to bat saliva or urine.
Early symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain and fatigue, while severe cases can progress to respiratory distress, pneumonia and encephalitis. The incubation period varies from four to 21 days.
Thailand has stepped up surveillance at major airports including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and Phuket, where travelers arriving from West Bengal are screened for fever and Nipah-related symptoms. Health advisory cards are also distributed at entry points.
Nepal has reportedly strengthened health checks at Tribhuvan International Airport and at key land border crossings with India, instructing border hospitals and health desks to promptly identify and report suspected cases.
In Taiwan, authorities are reportedly taking steps to classify Nipah virus infection as a category 5 notifiable disease, which would require immediate notification and strict containment measures. A level 2 travel alert remains in effect for the Indian state of Kerala.
(with contributions from the union feed)
