Airports Across Asia Screening For Nipah Virus After Two Cases Confirmed In W. Bengal; 40-70% Fatality Rate, No Vaccine
Airports across Asia have been put on high alert after India confirmed two cases of the deadly Nipah virus in the state of West Bengal over the past month. Thailand, Nepal and Vietnam are among the countries screening airport arrivals over fears of an wider outbreak of the virus, which can spread from animals to humans and has a high fatality rate.
The Indian health ministry has confirmed two cases in the state of West Bengal since December but said there had been a “timely containment” of the virus. The government did not give details on the infected patients but said almost 200 close contacts had been tested and no further outbreaks had been detected.
Nipah virus is primarily transmitted to humans from animals such as pigs and fruit bats, either by direct contact or through their secretions. It can incubate in the body for a period of four to 14 days. The initial symptoms of the virus are often high fever, nausea, vomiting and respiratory problems, which can then develop into pneumonia. In severe cases it causes a dangerous swelling of the brain that can lead to neurological symptoms such as drowsiness and seizures.
It is highly contagious between humans and seen by the World Health Organization as a high risk for epidemics because there is no vaccine. It has a high fatality rate of 40% to 75%, far deadlier than Covid-19.
EDIT
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jan/28/what-is-nipah-virus-outbreak-india-symptoms
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