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Singapore Tightens Airport Health Checks After Nipah Cases in India

Health officials say the virus remains hard to spread between people despite its high fatality rate.

Overview

  • Changi Airport will screen temperatures for travelers from affected areas, issue health advisories at entry points, and expand monitoring of newly arrived South Asian migrant workers.
  • Thailand and Malaysia had already increased airport screening in response to India’s reported cases.
  • Nipah is a zoonotic virus tied to fruit bats and contaminated fruit, with limited human-to-human transmission documented.
  • The World Health Organization estimates a case fatality rate ranging from 40% to 75% depending on care availability.
  • There are no approved vaccines or treatments, though an Oxford-developed vaccine is in phase 2 testing in Bangladesh.