With confirmed cases of the Nipah virus emerging in West Bengal, several Asian countries have tightened health surveillance at international airports to prevent cross-border transmission. Though only two cases have been confirmed so far and a few remain under investigation, the high fatality rate associated with Nipah has triggered precautionary responses beyond India.
Why Nipah virus raises serious concern
Nipah is a zoonotic infection carried naturally by fruit bats of the Pteropus genus. Humans can contract the virus through contaminated food, infected animals or close contact with bodily fluids of an infected person. Symptoms often begin with fever, headache and muscle pain, progressing rapidly to respiratory distress and acute encephalitis. With no widely available vaccine or specific antiviral treatment, mortality rates have ranged between 40% and 75% in past outbreaks.
Unlike Covid-19, Nipah does not spread easily through casual airborne contact. However, its severity means even limited outbreaks demand strict monitoring.
Countries stepping up airport checks
In response to the West Bengal cases, Thailand, Nepal and Taiwan have introduced targeted screening for travellers arriving from high-risk areas in India. These measures draw on systems developed during the Covid-19 pandemic but are more focused and risk-based.
What screening involves
Health checks include temperature screening, health declaration forms detailing recent travel and exposure, and visual clinical assessment by trained staff. Symptomatic passengers may be referred for isolation and confirmatory testing, usually through RT-PCR at designated facilities.
How this differs from Covid protocols
Covid-19 required mass testing and quarantine due to its airborne spread. Nipah screening is narrower, concentrating on symptoms and exposure history rather than routine testing of all travellers.
What travellers should keep in mind
Authorities advise passengers to arrive early, declare symptoms honestly and cooperate fully with health officials. Experts stress that while the overall risk to travellers remains low, early detection is crucial in preventing wider outbreaks.