Thailand, Nepal, Taiwan Step Up Surveillance Amid Nipah Virus Outbreak

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New Delhi: Airports across several parts of Asia have begun tightening health surveillance and travel screening measures following the confirmation of Nipah virus cases in eastern India.

Thailand, Nepal and Taiwan are among the countries and territories that have stepped up precautionary controls after two cases of the virus were reported in India’s West Bengal state. Nipah is a zoonotic disease that can spread to humans from infected bats or pigs and, in some cases, through close person-to-person contact.

Indian health authorities said a total of 196 people who had contact with the infected patients in West Bengal were traced, monitored and tested. All were asymptomatic and tested negative for the virus, according to a statement from the health ministry on Tuesday.

In Thailand, the Ministry of Public Health has increased health screening at major international airports for passengers arriving from West Bengal. Enhanced checks are being conducted at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and Phuket airports, using surveillance methods developed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Travellers are being monitored for fever and other symptoms associated with Nipah infection, while health “beware” cards are being distributed to provide guidance if symptoms develop after arrival. Cleaning and disease-control measures have also been intensified at Phuket International Airport.

Indian airline IndiGo operates a daily direct flight between Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, and Phuket.

Addressing public concern, Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said no Nipah cases had been detected in the country, but surveillance would remain at a high level. The Department of Disease Control said travellers from West Bengal began undergoing screening at Bangkok’s main airports from January 25.

Passengers showing high fever or symptoms consistent with Nipah infection will be transferred to quarantine facilities, according to local media. Authorities have also ordered stricter monitoring in caves and natural tourist areas, urging visitors to follow the rule: “Don’t hunt, don’t forage, don’t eat.”

In Nepal, the government has raised alert levels and intensified health checks at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and at key land border crossings with India. Health desks have been set up to screen travellers, while hospitals and border health points have been instructed to report and manage suspected cases.

Officials highlighted the challenge posed by open borders and frequent cross-border movement with India. Dr Prakash Budhathoki, a spokesperson for Nepal’s Ministry of Health, said individual screening of arriving passengers has begun at airports and border points, with particular focus on crossings in Koshi Province.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s health authorities are planning to classify Nipah virus infection as a Category 5 notifiable disease — the highest level for serious emerging infections under local law. The move, subject to a 60-day public comment period, would require immediate reporting and special control measures if cases occur.

Taiwan’s Centres for Disease Control said it is maintaining a Level 2 “yellow” travel alert for India’s Kerala state, advising travellers to exercise caution. Officials said travel advisories would be updated as the situation develops.

The World Health Organisation has classified the Nipah virus as a priority pathogen due to its epidemic potential and high fatality rate.

Initial symptoms of infection may include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting and sore throat. More severe cases can involve dizziness, altered consciousness, respiratory distress and fatal encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain. Some infected individuals may show no symptoms at all.

Previous outbreaks have recorded fatality rates ranging from 40 to 75 per cent, depending on the viral strain and outbreak conditions. Nipah virus cases have been reported in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore, with Bangladesh recording the highest number of cases and deaths, according to the International Society for Infectious Diseases.