Countries such as Thailand, Nepal, and Vietnam have begun tightening passenger screening on arrival, including temperature checks and health declarations, due to the risk of a wider outbreak. The Nipah virus can be transmitted from animals to humans and also between people, and it has a high mortality rate.
India’s Ministry of Health confirmed the two cases since December but said there had been “timely containment” of the outbreak. According to authorities, around 200 close contacts were tested, with no additional cases detected. The government did not disclose details about the infected patients.
The Nipah virus is primarily transmitted by fruit bats and pigs, and humans can become infected through direct contact or exposure to contaminated secretions. Early symptoms include high fever, vomiting, and respiratory problems, which can progress to pneumonia and, in severe cases, cause brain inflammation, seizures, and coma. The mortality rate ranges from 40% to 75%, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
First identified in Malaysia in 1998, the virus has caused recurring outbreaks in several Asian countries, including Bangladesh and India. In 2018, an outbreak in the Indian state of Kerala resulted in at least 17 deaths. The current cases are the first recorded in West Bengal since 2007.
Although India says the situation is under control, several countries have strengthened preventive measures at their borders. China has stepped up health checks in border areas, Myanmar has advised against non-essential travel to the affected region, and Indonesia has joined countries increasing surveillance. Indian authorities, however, have rejected reports of a generalized rise in cases, calling them “speculative and incorrect.”
