An outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus in India’s West Bengal state has raised alarm in several Asian countries, leading to stricter health checks at airports.
Thailand has begun screening passengers at three airports that receive flights from West Bengal, while Nepal has started screening travelers at Kathmandu airport as well as at land border crossings with India.
Earlier this month, five healthcare workers in West Bengal were infected with the virus, and one of them remains in critical condition. Around 110 people who came into contact with the infected individuals have been placed under quarantine as a precaution.
Nipah virus spreads from animals to humans and can also pass between people. Animals such as fruit bats and pigs are known carriers, and the virus can spread through contaminated food. It is considered extremely dangerous, with a death rate ranging between 40% and 75%, mainly because there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.
The World Health Organization has listed Nipah virus among its top ten priority diseases, alongside Covid-19 and Zika, due to its potential to cause widespread outbreaks. The incubation period usually lasts between four and 14 days.
People infected with the virus may experience mild symptoms or none at all. Early signs often include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and sore throat.
In more serious cases, patients may develop breathing problems, confusion, drowsiness, pneumonia, or encephalitis, a severe inflammation of the brain that can be fatal. So far, no medicines or vaccines have been approved to cure or prevent the disease.
