Nipah outbreak under control in India, government says as neighbouring countries step up vigilance

Indian authorities have moved to reassure the region after confirming that a recent outbreak of the Nipah virus has been successfully contained. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said late Tuesday that swift action helped prevent further spread after two cases were detected in West Bengal.

According to the ministry, a total of 196 contacts linked to the confirmed cases were traced, monitored and tested, with all results returning negative. Officials said the clarification was issued to counter what they described as “speculative and inaccurate reporting” in sections of the media.

“The situation is under constant monitoring and all necessary public health measures are in place,” the ministry said, noting that enhanced surveillance, laboratory testing and field investigations have been rolled out to ensure early detection of any new cases.

Despite India’s assurance, several Asian countries have introduced additional health screening for travellers arriving from India. China said it was tightening disease prevention measures in border regions, with state media reporting risk assessments and specialised training for medical personnel.

Countries including Indonesia and Thailand have stepped up airport checks through health declarations, temperature screening and visual assessments. Myanmar advised against non-essential travel to West Bengal and intensified fever surveillance at airports, a system originally introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic. Vietnam and Malaysia also directed authorities to strengthen monitoring at borders, ports of entry and healthcare facilities.

The Nipah virus, a zoonotic disease first identified in Malaysia in the late 1990s, spreads through fruit bats, pigs and close human contact. There is no vaccine or specific treatment, with care limited to managing symptoms and complications.

With a fatality rate estimated by the World Health Organization at 40–75%, Nipah is considered significantly more lethal than coronavirus infections. The first known human outbreak in 1998 led to more than 100 deaths among pig farmers and butchers in Malaysia and Singapore.

Since then, sporadic outbreaks have been reported in Bangladesh, the Philippines and India, with Kerala witnessing Nipah cases almost annually since 2018.

Source: Aljazeera