The dangerous Nipah virus causes concern and alarm in Asia/ Checks are being carried out at some airports

2026-01-27 18:56:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The dangerous Nipah virus causes concern and alarm in Asia/ Checks are being

An outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus in the Indian state of West Bengal has caused concern in parts of Asia, with some tightening screening measures at airports.

Thailand has begun screening passengers at three airports where flights from West Bengal arrive. Nepal has also begun screening arrivals at Kathmandu airport and other land border points with India.

Two cases confirmed in West Bengal since December are said to be healthcare workers. About 196 people who came in contact with them have been traced and tested negative for the virus, India's health ministry said.

The virus can spread from animals to humans. It has a high mortality rate, ranging from 40% to 75%, as there is no vaccine or drug to treat it.

What is the Nipah virus and what are its symptoms?

Nipah virus can be transmitted from animals, such as wild pigs and bats, to humans. It can also be spread from person to person through contaminated food.

The World Health Organization has listed Nipah in its top ten priority diseases, along with pathogens such as Covid-19 and Zika, because of its potential to cause an epidemic.

The incubation period ranges from four to 14 days. People who become infected with the virus show a range of symptoms, or sometimes none at all. Initial symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, and sore throat.

In some people, this can be followed by drowsiness, altered consciousness, and pneumonia. Encephalitis, a sometimes fatal condition that causes inflammation of the brain, can occur in severe cases. To date, no drug or vaccine has been approved to treat the disease.

In which countries were past eruptions recorded?

The first known outbreak of Nipah occurred in 1998 among pig farmers in Malaysia and later spread to neighboring Singapore. The virus takes its name from the village where it was first discovered.

More than 100 people were killed and a million pigs were slaughtered in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus. It also resulted in significant economic losses for farmers and those involved in the livestock trade.

Bangladesh has borne the brunt in recent years, with more than 100 people dying from Nipah since 2001.

The virus has also been detected in India. Outbreaks were reported in West Bengal in 2001 and 2007. More recently, the southern state of Kerala has been a hotbed of Nipah. In 2018, 19 cases were reported, of which 17 were fatal; and in 2023, two of the six confirmed cases later died.

What is currently happening?

India's Health Ministry said that after the confirmation of cases in West Bengal, contacts of infected individuals were identified, traced, monitored and tested and were found to be asymptomatic.

"The situation is under constant monitoring and all necessary public health measures have been taken ," the Ministry of Health stated.

No cases have been reported outside India yet, but some countries are stepping up precautions. On Sunday, Thailand began screening passengers at three international airports in Bangkok and Phuket that receive flights from West Bengal. Passengers on these flights have been asked to provide health declarations.

The parks and wildlife department has also implemented stricter controls at natural tourist attractions. Nepal has also started screening people arriving through the airport in Kathmandu and other land border points with India.

Meanwhile, health authorities in Taiwan have proposed that Nipah virus be listed as a Category 5 disease. Under the island's system, diseases classified as Category 5 are new or rare infections with high risks to public health, requiring immediate reporting and special control measures. /Taken from BBC, adapted from CNA