India contains Nipah virus outbreak as Asian nations increase health screenings
January 29, 2026
Indian authorities say a Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal is contained, after two cases, as countries tighten screenings while 196 traced contacts tested negative.
NEW DELHI — 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 Tuesday that two Nipah cases had been detected since December. All identified contacts were quarantined and tested. The ministry did not disclose details about the patients but confirmed that 196 contacts were traced and all tested negative. “The situation is under constant monitoring, and all necessary public health measures are in place,” the ministry said. Regional precautionary measures implemented No cases were reported outside India, but several Asian countries introduced or reinforced airport screening measures as a precaution. These steps followed early media reports suggesting a surge in cases, which health authorities later described as “speculative and incorrect.” Indonesia and Thailand increased screening at major airports, introducing health declarations, temperature checks, and visual monitoring for arriving passengers. Thailand’s Department of Disease Control said thermal scanners were installed at arrival gates for direct flights from West Bengal at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. Travel advisories and surveillance expansion Myanmar’s Health Ministry advised against nonessential travel to West Bengal and urged travelers to seek immediate medical care if symptoms develop within 14 days of travel. It said fever surveillance measures introduced during the Covid pandemic had been intensified at airports for passengers arriving from India, with laboratory testing capacity and medical supplies prepared. Vietnam’s Health Ministry urged strict food safety practices and instructed local authorities to increase monitoring at border crossings, health facilities, and communities, according to state media. China said it was strengthening disease prevention measures in border areas. State media reported that health authorities had initiated risk assessments, enhanced training for medical staff, and expanded monitoring and testing capabilities. Malaysia’s Ministry of Health also announced the introduction of health screening at international ports of entry. Overview of Nipah virus Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus transmitted from animals to humans and can also spread through contaminated food or direct human-to-human contact. In humans, infection can range from asymptomatic illness to acute respiratory disease and fatal encephalitis. The virus can also cause severe disease in animals, particularly pigs, leading to significant economic losses for farmers. Although only a limited number of outbreaks have occurred in Asia, Nipah virus infects a wide range of animals and causes severe illness and death in people, making it a public health concern. Past outbreaks Nipah virus was first identified in 1999 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia. No new outbreaks have been reported in Malaysia since then. The virus was later identified in Bangladesh in 2001, where nearly annual outbreaks have occurred. Periodic cases have also been reported in eastern India. The World Health Organization states that other regions may be at risk, as evidence of the virus has been found in its natural reservoir, Pteropus bat species, and other bat species in countries including Cambodia, Ghana, Indonesia, Madagascar, the Philippines, and Thailand. Modes of transmission During the initial Malaysian outbreak, which also affected Singapore, most human infections resulted from direct contact with sick pigs or their contaminated tissues. Transmission was believed to occur through unprotected exposure to pig secretions or infected animal tissues. In later outbreaks in Bangladesh and India, consumption of fruits or fruit products, such as raw date palm juice contaminated with urine or saliva from infected fruit bats, was identified as the most likely source of infection. There are currently no studies on viral persistence in bodily fluids or the environment, including fruits. Human-to-human transmission has also been reported, particularly among family members and caregivers. In later outbreaks in Bangladesh and India, the virus spread through close contact with infected individuals’ secretions and excretions. In Siliguri, India, in 2001, transmission occurred within a healthcare setting, with 75% of cases among hospital staff or visitors. Between 2001 and 2008, approximately half of reported cases in Bangladesh were linked to human-to-human transmission. Signs and symptoms Human infection ranges from asymptomatic illness to acute respiratory infection and fatal encephalitis. Early symptoms include fever, headache, myalgia, vomiting, and sore throat. These may progress to dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, and neurological signs of acute encephalitis. Some patients develop atypical pneumonia and severe respiratory complications, including acute respiratory distress. In severe cases, encephalitis and seizures can progress to coma within 24 to 48 hours. The incubation period is believed to range from 4 to 14 days, though periods as long as 45 days have been reported. Most survivors of acute encephalitis recover fully, but long-term neurological conditions have been reported. Approximately 20% of patients experience residual effects such as seizure disorders and personality changes. A small number of recovered patients may relapse or develop delayed-onset encephalitis. The case fatality rate is estimated at 40% to 75%, varying by outbreak and local surveillance and clinical management capacity. Diagnosis Early symptoms are nonspecific, and diagnosis is often not suspected at initial presentation, creating challenges for outbreak detection and infection control. Laboratory accuracy may be affected by the quality, quantity, type, and timing of sample collection, as well as transport time to laboratories. Diagnosis is based on clinical history during acute and convalescent phases. Primary tests include real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from bodily fluids and antibody detection using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Other methods include polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and virus isolation by cell culture. Treatment There are currently no drugs or vaccines specific to Nipah virus infection. The World Health Organization has identified Nipah as a priority disease under its Research and Development Blueprint. Intensive supportive care is recommended to manage severe respiratory and neurological complications. |
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