COVID-19 reshaped global health responses, and now another deadly virus is prompting renewed precautions. A Nipah virus outbreak in India’s West Bengal state has led several Asian countries to reinstate airport health measures used during the pandemic.
Five cases have been confirmed, including doctors and nurses, with nearly 100 people ordered to quarantine. One patient remains in critical condition. Nipah is a rare but highly dangerous virus with a high fatality rate and no vaccine or proven treatment.
Classified by the WHO as a high-risk pathogen, Nipah is transmitted from animals to humans—often from bats via contaminated fruit—and can also spread through close contact with bodily fluids. Symptoms typically appear within 4–14 days and range from flu-like illness to severe brain inflammation (encephalitis), which can cause seizures or coma.
First identified in 1999, Nipah outbreaks have mainly occurred in South and Southeast Asia. The current outbreak is believed to have originated in a hospital in West Bengal.
In response, countries including Thailand, Nepal, Taiwan, and Hong Kong have tightened health screenings for travelers from the region, with fever checks and symptom monitoring at major airports. While China reports no cases, officials warn of the risk of imported infections.
Health authorities continue to stress prevention, early detection, and vigilance as efforts to contain the outbreak intensify.
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