Outbreak in West Bengal Sparks Regional Concern
A fresh Nipah virus outbreak in India’s West Bengal state has triggered a wave of airport health screenings and travel surveillance across Asia as governments work to prevent cross‑border spread of the highly virulent disease. The outbreak, first reported in early January 2026, has prompted authorities in multiple countries to reinstate or strengthen measures at major international airports to detect potential cases among travellers arriving from affected areas.
Health officials in West Bengal have confirmed multiple infections, including among healthcare workers. Around 100 close contacts have been quarantined amid efforts to contain the outbreak, and specialist public health teams have been deployed to support local containment, contact tracing, and infection control.
Nipah Virus: A High‑Risk Pathogen With No Cure
The Nipah virus (NiV) — first identified in Malaysia in 1998 — is a zoonotic pathogen transmitted from animals such as fruit bats and pigs to humans. It can also spread through close contact between people, especially via infected bodily fluids. The virus is particularly feared by public health authorities because it has no licensed vaccine or specific antiviral treatment and is associated with a high fatality rate, ranging from 40% to 75% in past outbreaks.
Symptoms can begin with fever, headache and muscle pain, and in severe cases progress to respiratory distress and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Given these features and its history of localized outbreaks in South and Southeast Asia, Nipah remains one of the World Health Organization’s priority pathogens requiring vigilance.
Airport Screenings Reinstated Across Asia
Countries throughout the region have responded swiftly to the India outbreak by reintroducing health screenings at airports, largely inspired by the travel surveillance systems developed during the COVID‑19 pandemic. These measures focus on arrivals from high‑risk areas such as India’s West Bengal, where confirmed cases have occurred.
In Thailand, health authorities at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and Phuket Airports have been conducting systematic checks, including temperature screening, symptom observation and health questionnaires, for passengers arriving from India. More than 1,700 passengers have already been screened, with no confirmed Nipah cases detected so far. Thai officials have also placed designated hospitals on standby in case suspected infections need isolation and treatment.
Similarly, Nepal has expanded surveillance at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and at land border crossings with India, staffing health desks to monitor travellers for signs of infection. Taiwan has strengthened entry point vigilance and issued travel advisories urging individuals to monitor their health after arriving from affected regions.
Even in Indonesia, major aviation hubs like Soekarno‑Hatta International Airport are enhancing health screenings, requiring travelers to fill out detailed health declarations and undergo temperature checks, a precautionary move designed to flag potential infections amid broader regional concerns.
Beyond Airports: Broader Public Health Measures
Airport screenings are just one part of expansive regional preparedness efforts. Health agencies are distributing informational materials — such as “health beware” cards — that outline Nipah symptoms and recommend steps for travellers to take if they fall ill after arriving abroad. Governments are emphasising cooperation with screening teams and advising travellers to report symptoms promptly and comply with quarantine directives if required.
In India, outbreak response involves home quarantine for close contacts, isolation of confirmed cases, and stringent infection control in hospitals, where several cases have been linked to healthcare settings.
Public and Official Messages: Vigilance Without Panic
Public health authorities emphasise that while the outbreak warrants vigilance, the nature of Nipah transmission differs significantly from highly contagious respiratory viruses like COVID‑19. Transmission typically requires direct contact with bodily fluids or contaminated food, and individuals are not thought to be contagious before developing symptoms — factors that somewhat reduce the risk of in‑flight spread.
Thai officials, for example, have publicly stated that no local infections have been detected and that screening measures are precautionary rather than reactive, focusing on early detection and rapid medical referral if needed.
Risks, Uncertainties and Health Infrastructure Preparedness
Despite these precautions, the high case‑fatality potential of Nipah — combined with the absence of specific treatments — has kept health systems on alert. Health authorities across Asia are ensuring hospitals are prepared with isolation facilities and trained personnel, ready to manage suspected cases should they arise.
Experts underscore that the current approach aims to balance open borders and mobility with the need to protect public health — a lesson learned from earlier pandemics. Travellers are advised to comply with health screenings, monitor themselves for symptoms for up to 21 days after travel, and seek immediate medical attention if they become unwell.
Looking Ahead: Monitoring and Coordination
Regional coordination continues to deepen as health agencies share surveillance data and refine screening protocols. While the outbreak remains focused in West Bengal, its ripple effects demonstrate how rapidly infectious disease alerts can influence travel policy and public health actions across borders.
Authorities maintain that international cooperation and early detection remain the most effective tools to prevent outbreaks from escalating into wider emergencies. For now, airport screenings and monitoring measures offer a preventive bulwark, aiming to safeguard both travellers and host communities in a highly interconnected Asia.
