India says it has contained Nipah virus outbreak as some Asian countries ramp up screenings

Indian authorities said they have contained a Nipah virus outbreak after confirming two cases in the eastern state of West Bengal, prompting several Asian countries to tighten health screenings and airport surveillance for travelers arriving from India. India’s Health Ministry said the cases were detected since December, with 196 contacts traced, quarantined and all testing negative, adding that the situation is under constant monitoring. While no cases have been reported outside India, countries including Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and China introduced or reinforced precautionary measures such as airport screening, temperature checks and enhanced disease monitoring, following early media reports that officials said were speculative and incorrect. Nipah, a zoonotic virus transmitted through bats, pigs and human contact, has no vaccine and carries a high fatality rate, according to the WHO. Authorities said the heightened regional response reflects caution, as India has experienced previous Nipah outbreaks, including in West Bengal and southern Kerala.

Credit : CGTN