An outbreak of the Nipah virus in India’s West Bengal state has led to some airports in Asia introducing screening measures for passengers arriving from affected areas, according to a BBC News report.
Health authorities in Thailand have started screening passengers at three major international airports that receive flights from West Bengal. These measures include temperature checks and health questionnaires, focusing on travellers arriving from the region where the outbreak has been identified.
Similarly, Nepal has begun health screenings at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and at nearby land border crossings with India. Officials there have set up health desks to monitor incoming travellers for symptoms consistent with Nipah virus infection.
The virus itself is a zoonotic pathogen that is transmitted from animals such as fruit bats and pigs to humans. In previous outbreaks it has also passed between people who have close contact with infected individuals.
Symptoms can include fever, headache, respiratory issues and, in severe cases, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and it has no widely available vaccine or specific cure. Fatality rates in past outbreaks have been high, ranging from about 40 % to 75 %.
Indian health authorities have confirmed several cases in West Bengal, including infections among healthcare workers, prompting heightened surveillance and quarantine measures for individuals who had close contact with confirmed patients.
Although the outbreak is currently localized, the stepped-up screening at airports in neighbouring countries reflects concern about the virus’s potential to spread through international travel. Public health officials emphasize that these measures are precautionary, aiming to detect possible cases early and limit further spread.
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