General

Indian officials announced that they have managed to control a Nipah virus outbreak after identifying two cases in West Bengal, a state in eastern India. In response, several countries in Asia have enhanced health screenings and airport checks for travelers coming from India. The Health Ministry of India reported on Tuesday that the two cases of Nipah were found since December, and all people who came into contact with the patients have been quarantined and tested. While details about the patients were not shared, the ministry confirmed that 196 contacts were traced and all tested negative. The ministry stated, “The situation is under constant monitoring, and all necessary public health measures are in place.” Nipah is a virus that can jump from animals to humans and was first recognized during an outbreak in Malaysia in the 1990s. It spreads through fruit bats, pigs, and can also be transmitted from person to person. There is no vaccine for Nipah, which can lead to high fevers, seizures, and vomiting. Supportive care is the only available treatment to manage symptoms and provide comfort. According to the World Health Organization, the virus has a death rate between 40 percent and 75 percent, making it much more lethal than the coronavirus. So far, there have been no cases reported outside of India. However, several Asian nations have started or strengthened airport screening as a safety measure. These precautions were taken after early media reports from India hinted at an increase in cases, although health officials described those numbers as “speculative and incorrect.” Airports in Indonesia and Thailand have stepped up screenings for incoming travelers, which now include health declarations, temperature checks, and visual assessments.