India confirms two Nipah cases as Southeast Asia tightens airport checks

WEB DESK: India has confirmed two cases of the Nipah virus in its eastern state of West Bengal and said it is closely monitoring the situation, even as countries in Southeast Asia ramp up health screening for international travellers.

In a statement issued earlier, India’s health ministry cautioned against what it described as “speculative and incorrect” reports circulating about the number of infections, clarifying that only two cases have been detected since December. Officials said 196 contacts linked to the patients had been identified and traced, with all testing negative for the virus and showing no symptoms so far.

The confirmation came a day after Thailand announced stricter health surveillance at its airports. Thai authorities said aircraft arriving from regions affected by Nipah outbreaks would be directed to designated parking areas, while passengers would be required to submit health declarations before immigration clearance.

Malaysia has also stepped up preparedness measures, introducing enhanced health screening at international entry points, particularly for travellers arriving from countries considered at risk. The Malaysian health ministry said it remained alert to the possibility of cross-border transmission following sporadic Nipah infections reported elsewhere.

The World Health Organization classifies Nipah as a priority pathogen because of its potential to spark outbreaks. The virus, which can cause severe respiratory illness and brain inflammation, has a fatality rate estimated at between 40 and 75 percent. There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the disease.