Nipah Virus detected in West Bengal, Asia tightens airport screening

India’s West Bengal is facing a fresh outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus, which can spread from animals to humans and currently has no approved vaccine or definitive treatment. The virus has a high fatality rate, ranging from 40 to 75 percent.

According to India’s Ministry of Health, two healthcare workers tested positive in December. Authorities identified 196 individuals who had contact with them, all of whom tested negative.

Nipah virus typically transmits from fruit bats or pigs to humans and can also spread through contaminated food or person-to-person contact. Symptoms appear within 4 to 14 days and include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and sore throat. Severe infections can cause encephalitis, a life-threatening inflammation of the brain.

In response, several Asian countries have strengthened health screenings at airports and land border points. Thailand has begun checking passengers arriving from West Bengal at Bangkok and Phuket international airports, while Nepal has implemented similar measures at Kathmandu airport and other border crossings with India. Taiwan has proposed classifying Nipah as a “Category-5” pathogen.

Nipah virus first emerged in 1998 in Malaysia, causing over 100 deaths and the culling of approximately one million pigs. Bangladesh has been the hardest hit, recording more than 100 fatalities since 2001. In India, outbreaks were reported in West Bengal (2001 and 2007) and Kerala, which remains a hotspot. Kerala saw 19 cases in 2018, with 17 deaths, and six cases in 2023, with two deaths.

Authorities in West Bengal are actively tracing contacts, monitoring symptoms, and conducting tests, while public health measures remain in place. The situation is under continuous observation to prevent further spread.

The World Health Organization lists Nipah virus among the top 10 priority pathogens due to its pandemic potential if uncontrolled.