Nipah Virus Sparks High Alert at Asian Airports After India Confirms Cases
Airports across Asia have been placed on high alert following the confirmation of two cases of the deadly Nipah virus in the Indian state of West Bengal over the past month. Countries including Thailand, Nepal, and Vietnam are implementing enhanced screening measures for airport arrivals to prevent a wider outbreak of this highly contagious disease.
What Is the Nipah Virus and Why Is It So Dangerous?
The Nipah virus is a zoonotic pathogen, meaning it spreads from animals to humans, primarily through direct contact with pigs or fruit bats, or via their secretions. Once transmitted to humans, it becomes highly contagious and poses a significant epidemic risk, as identified by the World Health Organization.
Key characteristics of the virus include:
- Incubation Period: The virus can incubate in the body for 4 to 14 days before symptoms appear.
- Symptoms: Initial signs often involve high fever, nausea, vomiting, and respiratory issues, which may progress to pneumonia. In severe cases, it causes encephalitis, or brain swelling, leading to neurological symptoms like drowsiness and seizures.
- Fatality Rate: With a mortality rate ranging from 40% to 75%, Nipah virus is far deadlier than Covid-19, and there is currently no vaccine available.
Historical Context of Nipah Virus Outbreaks
First identified in 1998 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia, where it claimed over 100 lives, the virus was named after the village of its discovery. Since then, outbreaks have occurred almost annually across Asia, notably in countries such as India, the Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia.
In India, the first case was reported in 2001 in West Bengal, which borders Bangladesh, where the virus has been routinely linked to the harvesting of raw date sap, as fruit bats often inhabit date palms. Recent incidents include a 2018 outbreak in Kerala that resulted in at least 17 deaths, and two more fatalities in 2023.
Current Response to the Latest Outbreak
The recent cases in West Bengal mark the first detection in the state since 2007, prompting a coordinated public health response. Indian health authorities have emphasised that enhanced surveillance, laboratory testing, and field investigations have ensured timely containment of the virus.
According to the Indian health ministry, nearly 200 close contacts have been tested, with no further outbreaks detected since December. The situation remains under constant monitoring, with all necessary public health measures in place.
However, neighbouring countries are taking precautionary steps:
- Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia have introduced additional screening at airports, including temperature checks and health declarations for passengers arriving from India.
- Myanmar has advised against non-essential travel to West Bengal.
- China has strengthened disease prevention measures in its border areas.
Indian officials have dismissed reports of a surge in cases as speculative and incorrect, maintaining that the outbreak is under control.
