NEW DELHI — Indian authorities announced they have contained a Nipah virus outbreak after confirming two cases in West Bengal, prompting several Asian countries to reinforce health screenings and airport surveillance for travelers arriving from India.
India’s Health Ministry said Tuesday that the two cases were detected since December, and that all identified contacts totaling 196 individuals had been quarantined and tested, all of whom yielded negative results. “The situation is under constant monitoring, and all necessary public health measures are in place,” the ministry added.
Nipah is a zoonotic virus first identified during a 1990s outbreak in Malaysia. It can be transmitted through fruit bats, pigs, or human-to-human contact. The virus can cause high fever, convulsions, and vomiting, and currently has no vaccine; treatment is limited to supportive care to manage symptoms. The World Health Organization estimates its fatality rate at 40% to 75%, making it far deadlier than COVID-19.
While there have been no reported cases outside India, several Asian countries implemented or reinforced airport screening as a precaution after early media reports suggested a surge in case reports that authorities described as “speculative and incorrect.”
In Indonesia and Thailand, screening at major airports includes health declarations, temperature checks, and visual monitoring. Thailand’s Department of Disease Control installed thermal scanners at arrival gates for direct flights from West Bengal at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Myanmar’s Health Ministry advised against nonessential travel to West Bengal and urged travelers to seek immediate medical care if symptoms develop within 14 days of arrival. Fever surveillance introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic has been intensified for passengers from India, with laboratory testing and medical supplies ready.
Vietnam’s Health Ministry directed local authorities to reinforce food safety practices and increase monitoring at border crossings, health facilities, and communities. Meanwhile, China reported enhanced disease prevention measures in border areas, including risk assessments, increased training for medical staff, and expanded testing and monitoring capabilities.
Historically, Nipah outbreaks in India occurred in West Bengal in 2001 and 2007, while recent cases have largely emerged in Kerala. A major outbreak in 2018 killed at least 17 people in Kerala.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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