Asia Introduces Airport Screenings Following Nipah Virus Cases in India

Two confirmed cases of the Nipah virus in India have triggered increased vigilance and international warnings, Euronews reports. Health authorities in the country stated that the infections were recorded in the state of West Bengal in eastern India, near the borders with Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal.

Both infected individuals are healthcare workers from the region and are currently being treated in intensive care units. The Indian government specified that 196 contacts of the confirmed cases are asymptomatic and have tested negative for the virus.

The Ministry of Health stated that available data does not warrant public alarm regarding the safety of individuals and their families. Nevertheless, every outbreak of the virus is closely monitored due to its high mortality rate, which can reach up to 75 percent, as well as the lack of specific treatment or a vaccine.

The Nipah virus is a zoonotic infection that can be transmitted from animals to humans, through the consumption of contaminated food, or via direct contact with an infected person. The primary natural reservoir of the virus is fruit bats, and it is most commonly found in coastal regions and islands in the Indian Ocean, India, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.

The virus has significant epidemic and even pandemic potential, as it can be transmitted through domestic animals, and subsequent human-to-human spread is also possible. In infected individuals, the disease may be asymptomatic, but in more severe cases, it leads to acute respiratory problems and fatal encephalitis. The mortality rate varies between 40 and 75 percent depending on the strain.

Some of India’s neighboring countries have already taken additional measures. Thailand has introduced airport screenings for passengers arriving from West Bengal, with no cases identified outside India to date. The country has also implemented enhanced surveillance of visitors in areas associated with bat populations. Nepal has similarly increased controls at its border with India and at its international airports in response to the confirmed cases.

The emergence of Nipah virus outbreaks is not uncommon in higher-risk regions. According to World Health Organization data, cases have been recorded in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore since 1998.

In July 2025, India confirmed four cases, including two deaths, in two districts of the state of Kerala in the southwestern part of the country, where outbreaks have appeared regularly since 2018. In Bangladesh, four cases were also reported between January and August 2025; the disease is considered endemic there, with infections recorded almost every year.

In both instances, the World Health Organization assessed the risk of international spread as low but emphasized the need for increased awareness of risk factors, as there are currently no approved drugs or vaccines against the Nipah virus.