Deadly Illness Reportedly Detected In Asia, Prompting Airports To Implement Screening Measures Similar To COVID-19

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Reports of a Nipah virus outbreak in an Indian state have prompted airports across Asia to implement COVID-style screenings.

“Nipah is a serious, and sometimes deadly, viral disease,” the CDC says.

“Nipah virus can be spread from person to person,” the agency says, adding that “Nipah outbreaks occur nearly every year in parts of Asia, often in Bangladesh and India.”

“Around 40%–70% of people with Nipah die,” the agency stated.

Airports introduced precautionary measures after two Nipah virus cases were confirmed in India’s West Bengal.

“The virus can spread between animals and people, specifically from fruit bats and pigs. The countries currently implementing the screenings include Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Pakistan, according to Reuters,” Collin Rugg wrote.

More from The Independent:

In West Bengal, a total of 196 people were identified as contacts of the infected patients and were traced, monitored and tested, according to the Indian health ministry. All were found to be asymptomatic and tested negative for the virus, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

In Thailand, the ministry of public health has stepped up health screening at major airports for passengers arriving from West Bengal, using techniques that became established during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Passengers at the Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and Phuket airports are being monitored for fever and symptoms associated with the virus, and health “beware” cards are being issued to guide travellers on what to do if they fall ill.

Officials have also increased cleaning and disease-control preparedness at Phuket International Airport as part of the preventive measures. The Indian airline Indigo operates a daily direct flight between Kolkata’s international airport in West Bengal and Phuket.

Addressing public concern on Monday, Thai prime minster Anutin Charnvirakul said no Nipah cases had been recorded domestically but surveillance levels would remain high.

“Don’t fall for the media hype around Nipah virus,” said Nicolas Hulscher, epidemiologist and administrator at the McCullough Foundation.

“Nipah virus outbreaks have occurred almost EVERY year since the late 1990s — primarily in Bangladesh and India. The current situation in India involves just 2 confirmed cases, with the most recent case reported last December,” he added.

Daily Mail shared further:

Nipah virus has never been detected in the US, but experts fear it could reach the country if someone who is infected travels to the area.

The disease is rare, but can be caught from contact with an infected person or by consuming food or drink contaminated with the feces, urine or saliva of infected fruit bats.

Patients suffer symptoms including fever, headaches, vomiting and a sore throat within four to 21 days of infection. They can pass the disease to others via close contact with infected bodily fluids.

Within three to 21 days of symptoms emerging, patients may then develop serious complications such as encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain. This is linked to its mortality rate.

There is no treatment for the disease, but several vaccines against the virus are currently in testing.

More than two million people traveled from India to the US in 2023 alone, data suggests, which was up a quarter from the previous year.

All of India is currently under a US Level 2 travel advisory, asking travelers to practice increased caution amid reports of crimes and terrorism. It has been in place since June last year and there is no mention of the virus.

In a statement, the CDC said: ‘As of January 27, 2026, two cases of Nipah virus infection have been confirmed, both in healthcare workers in West Bengal.



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