New Delhi: Multiple Nipah virus infections have been reported in India, triggering renewed regional vigilance not only in the country but in several Asian nations as well.
Airports in countries like Thailand, Nepal and Taiwan have tightened health screening measures, reintroducing COVID-era type checks, including passenger monitoring and surveillance.
Thailand’s Department of Disease Control have started screening travellers from India, especially the state of West Bengal, at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports from January 25. Health officials have been implementing strict measures as passengers arrive in Thailand for vacations or business.
Thailand’s Department of Disease Control screens travelers from West Bengal, India at Suvarnabhumi & Don Mueang airports starting 25 January amid Nipah virus outbreak. Health officials implement strict measures as passengers show excellent cooperation at checkpoints. pic.twitter.com/0SozySiBo5
— PR Thai Government (@prdthailand) January 25, 2026
China is on alert also, ahead of the Lunar New Year, when millions travel every year.
China’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has urged ‘heightened vigilance’ against imported infectious diseases during the peak travel period, from February 2 to March 13, South China Morning Post reported.
Experts in China have said that though the virus — a zoonotic disease that can spread from animals like bats and pigs to humans, and through close human-to-human contact – won’t transmit widely, there is concern due to its high fatality rate.
In January, five confirmed cases of Nipah virus infections have been reported among health workers in West Bengal, ANI reported citing Dr Narendra Kumar Arora, president of AIIMS Bilaspur and chairman of India’s COVID-19 Working Group at the National Technical Advisory Group.
Indian authorities have reassured the public that the situation is under control.
According to Dr Arora, Kerala and West Bengal are endemic regions, but only a limited number of cases have been reported.
He did warn that the virus has a mortality rate of 40-75 per cent, with no vaccine currently available.
“Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease… These sporadic outbreaks have occurred in both Kerala and West Bengal. But even Bangladesh is endemic for the Nipah virus… The current outbreak was first reported among 5 health workers in West Bengal after a person died of an unknown disease, and later on, these 5 health professionals were involved. An ongoing investigation is now underway into another 100 to 200 people who have been exposed… Nipah virus is that it is highly infectious and fatal… The person either gets symptoms of encephalitis or severe respiratory disease, and mortality is 40 to 75%, which is very high,” Dr Arora told ANI.