Nipah Virus Outbreak in India Prompts Airport Screenings Across Asia

An outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus in West Bengal, India, has raised alarm across parts of Asia, prompting enhanced screening measures at airports.

Thailand has begun screening passengers at three airports in Bangkok and Phuket that receive flights from West Bengal. Nepal has also started screening arrivals at Kathmandu airport and other land border crossings with India.

In West Bengal, five healthcare workers were infected earlier this month, with one reported in critical condition. Around 110 individuals who had contact with them have been placed under quarantine.

The Nipah virus can be transmitted from animals, such as pigs and fruit bats, to humans, and can also spread through contaminated food or from person to person. It has a high fatality rate, estimated between 40% and 75%, and there is currently no vaccine or approved treatment.

Symptoms of Nipah infection vary, with some people showing no signs at all. Early symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and sore throat. In severe cases, patients may develop drowsiness, altered consciousness, pneumonia, or encephalitis, a potentially fatal inflammation of the brain. The incubation period ranges from four to 14 days.

Past outbreaks have occurred in Malaysia, Bangladesh, and India. The first recognized outbreak was in 1998 among pig farmers in Malaysia, resulting in over 100 deaths and the culling of a million pigs. Bangladesh has reported over 100 deaths since 2001. India has seen outbreaks in West Bengal in 2001 and 2007, and in Kerala in 2018 and 2023, with high mortality rates.

Currently, at least five confirmed cases have been reported in Barasat, linked to a private hospital. Two nurses are in intensive care, with one in critical condition.

While no cases have been confirmed outside India, countries in the region are taking precautions. Thailand is requiring health declarations from travelers from West Bengal and has increased screening at tourist sites. Nepal has intensified monitoring at its airport and land borders with India. Taiwan is considering classifying Nipah as a “Category 5 disease,” reserved for rare or emerging infections with serious public health risks that require immediate reporting and control measures.