Airports in Asia have brought back Covid-style health checks after India confirmed a new Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal.
Five cases have been reported. Nearly 100 people who were in close contact with the infected have been told to quarantine at home.
Three cases were confirmed last week. Two earlier cases involved a male and a female nurse who were hospitalised.
A senior West Bengal health official said the nurses are still being closely monitored.
“The condition of the male nurse is improving but the woman patient remains very critical. Both of them are being treated in the ICCU (Intensive Coronary Care Unit),” the official said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Nipah spreads from animals to humans, mainly from fruit bats. It has a fatality rate of 40 to 75 per cent. There is no vaccine or specific treatment.
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This is the first Nipah outbreak in West Bengal in 19 years. It is also India’s ninth outbreak since 2001, according to TravelHealthPro.
Thailand has increased screening at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and Phuket airports for travellers coming from West Bengal.
Officials are checking passengers for fever and other symptoms. They are also giving out “Health Beware Cards” to travellers from risk areas.
The Thai government said no Nipah cases have been found in Thailand. But screening will continue.
“Thailand’s Department of Disease Control screens travellers from West Bengal, India at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports starting 25 January amid the Nipah virus outbreak,” the statement said.
Nepal has also introduced screening at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.
Taiwan plans to classify Nipah as a Category 5 notifiable disease, the highest level for serious infections. Taiwan’s CDC also said it is keeping a Level 2 “yellow” travel alert for Kerala state.
Kerala has reported Nipah outbreaks almost every year from 2018 to 2025, according to TravelHealthPro.