Nipah virus fears trigger airport checks across Asia after India confirms two cases
Summary
Authorities across Asia have implemented airport screenings due to confirmed Nipah virus cases in India, aiming to prevent the deadly disease's spread. The two infected health workers in West Bengal are under treatment while contacts test negative.
Key Points
- Two Nipah virus infections were confirmed in West Bengal, India, involving health workers currently under treatment.
- Countries including Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Nepal, and China have introduced enhanced airport screening and surveillance to prevent the virus spread.
- Nipah virus has a high fatality rate (40%-75%) with no approved vaccine or cure, classified as a priority pathogen by WHO.
- India regularly reports sporadic Nipah cases, especially in Kerala; West Bengal's recent cases are the first in nearly two decades.
