New Delhi: Nipah has placed health authorities in India and across Asia on high alert following a cluster of confirmed infections in West Bengal.
Five healthcare workers linked to a private hospital in Barasat have tested positive for the virus, with one patient remaining in critical condition. Around 110 people who came into contact with the infected individuals have been quarantined as part of containment measures.
The outbreak has prompted several Asian countries to tighten screening protocols at points of entry. Thailand has begun health checks at three international airports in Bangkok and Phuket that receive flights from West Bengal. Passengers arriving from the affected region have been required to complete health declarations.
Nepal has also started screening arrivals at Kathmandu airport and has strengthened monitoring at land border crossings with India. Taiwan has proposed listing Nipah as a Category 5 disease, a classification reserved for emerging infections that pose major public health risks and require immediate reporting and special control measures.
Nipah is a zoonotic virus, meaning it can spread from animals to humans. Fruit bats and pigs are recognised carriers, and transmission can occur through contaminated food. Human-to-human transmission has also been recorded, particularly through close contact with infected individuals. The disease is known for its high fatality rate, which ranges between forty percent and seventy-five percent, and there is currently no approved vaccine or antiviral treatment.
The incubation period typically ranges from four to fourteen days. Symptoms vary widely and may initially include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting and sore throat. In some cases, patients develop neurological complications such as drowsiness, confusion and encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain and can be fatal. Pneumonia has also been observed in severe cases.
The World Health Organization has listed Nipah among its top priority diseases because of its epidemic potential, alongside other major threats such as Covid-19 and Zika. Health experts consider the virus particularly dangerous due to the absence of treatment options and the speed at which outbreaks can escalate in densely populated areas.
Past outbreaks highlight the seriousness of the disease. The first known outbreak occurred in Malaysia in 1998 among pig farmers and later spread to Singapore, resulting in more than 100 deaths and the culling of about one million pigs. Bangladesh has reported more than 100 Nipah-related deaths since 2001. In India, earlier outbreaks were recorded in West Bengal in 2001 and 2007, while Kerala has experienced repeated clusters, including in 2018 and 2023.
So far, no cases linked to the current situation have been reported outside India. However, governments in the region have strengthened precautions to prevent international transmission. Thailand’s Department for Disease Control has said that authorities remain confident about guarding against an outbreak through strict screening measures and surveillance.
The latest Nipah cases underline the importance of rapid detection, isolation of infected individuals and public awareness. Health officials have continued to advise people to avoid consuming partially eaten fruit, maintain hygiene and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms develop after possible exposure.
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