Overview
- India has reported two laboratory‑confirmed Nipah infections in West Bengal, both healthcare workers, with 196 contacts traced and testing negative and no additional cases reported as of January 27.
- WHO assesses the international risk as low, does not recommend travel or trade restrictions, and says routine airport screening is not required for this event.
- Multiple Asian governments, including Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Vietnam, have introduced or tightened temperature checks and other entry‑point measures as precautions.
- Pakistan has ordered thermal screening and clinical assessments at all points of entry, required 21‑day transit histories for travelers, and reported no detected cases nationally.
- Public health experts caution that airport temperature checks offer limited scientific value for detecting Nipah, urging focus on surveillance, diagnostics and rapid response, as some critics press unverified claims and call for relocating T20 World Cup fixtures.