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India Confirms Two Nipah Cases in West Bengal as Asian Airports Tighten Screening

Health officials say the cluster is contained after tracing 196 contacts who all tested negative.

Overview

  • India’s Health Ministry reported two Nipah infections since December in West Bengal and said the situation remains under active monitoring.
  • Thailand began screening arrivals from West Bengal on Jan 25 at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and Phuket airports, with fever checks and health advisory cards and no domestic cases detected.
  • Nepal intensified checks at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport and major land border crossings with India, directing health facilities to report suspected cases.
  • Taiwan plans to classify Nipah as a Category 5 notifiable disease following a 60‑day consultation and is maintaining a Level 2 travel alert for parts of India.
  • Indian authorities disputed media reports of five infections, and health agencies reiterate that Nipah has a high historical fatality rate and no approved vaccines or treatments.