Pakistan Introduces Border Health Checks as Nipah Virus Cases Emerge in India
Pakistan has implemented enhanced screening protocols for all arrivals at its borders, responding directly to India's confirmation of two Nipah virus cases. This decisive action places Pakistan among a growing coalition of Asian nations strengthening their defences against this potentially fatal infection.
Regional Response to Nipah Virus Threat
Across Asia, multiple countries have intensified their airport health surveillance measures. Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam have all bolstered their screening procedures. In stark contrast, Indian officials have indicated there are no immediate plans to introduce screening at the country's airports, maintaining there is no evidence of a widespread outbreak.
"It has become imperative to strengthen preventative and surveillance measures at Pakistan's borders," declared the Border Health Services department in an official statement. "All travelers shall undergo thermal screening and clinical assessment at the Point of Entry," which encompasses seaports, land borders, and airports nationwide.
Enhanced Screening Procedures Implemented
The Pakistani agency specified that travellers must provide detailed transit history covering the preceding 21-day period. This measure aims to identify whether individuals have passed through "Nipah-affected or high-risk regions." Travel between Pakistan and India remains extremely limited, particularly following significant military tensions that erupted last May, with no direct flights currently operating between the two nations.
In Vietnam, authorities have taken similar precautions. Hanoi's health department ordered screening of incoming passengers at Noi Bai airport, with particular attention to arrivals from India and West Bengal, where the two health workers were confirmed infected in late December. Passengers undergo body temperature scanning, "allowing for timely isolation and epidemiological investigation," according to the department's statement.
India's Containment Efforts and Reassurances
Indian health authorities have identified and traced 196 contacts linked to the two confirmed cases, with none showing symptoms and all testing negative for the virus. The two infected individuals are healthcare workers, with the male patient reportedly doing well and likely to be discharged soon, while the female patient remains in critical condition under treatment.
Indian officials have repeatedly sought to reassure the public that the infection has been contained. "There is no outbreak, there were just two cases in one district in West Bengal and there is no spread," a federal health ministry official told Reuters anonymously. "There is no consideration for screening at airports in India because there appears to be no need for it."
When questioned about Indian passengers being screened at airports across Asia, the official acknowledged it was the sovereign right of nations to implement measures they deem necessary for public health protection.
Understanding the Nipah Virus Threat
The Nipah virus represents a serious pathogen capable of inducing fever and severe brain inflammation, with mortality rates ranging from 40% to 75% depending on local healthcare system capabilities. Currently, no vaccine exists for this infection, though person-to-person transmission typically requires prolonged, close contact with an infected individual.
This rare viral infection spreads primarily from infected animals, particularly fruit bats, to humans. First identified over 25 years ago during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia and Singapore, scientists believe the virus has circulated in flying foxes for thousands of years. The World Health Organization classifies Nipah as a priority pathogen requiring urgent research and development attention.
India regularly reports sporadic infections, with Kerala considered one of the world's highest-risk regions for Nipah. Globally, as of December 2025, there have been 750 confirmed Nipah infections resulting in 415 deaths, according to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, which is currently funding vaccine trials to combat this dangerous pathogen.
