Airports in several parts of Asia have stepped up health surveillance and tightened travel screening after an outbreak of the Nipah virus in an Indian state.
Foreign news agencies reported on Monday, 26 Jan 2026 GMT+7, that various countries and administrative regions in Asia, including Thailand, Nepal, and Taiwan, have begun implementing Nipah virus surveillance measures at airports following confirmation of five infected cases in West Bengal, India.
Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease primarily transmitted from infected pigs and bats to humans, but it can also spread through close human-to-human contact. However, many experts say the risk of widespread transmission remains low.
In West Bengal, about 100 people are currently in quarantine after the virus was detected in a hospital, including one doctor, nurses, and another staff member who tested positive following the first two confirmed cases—male and female nurses from the same district.
In Thailand, the Ministry of Public Health has increased health screening at major airports for passengers arriving from West Bengal, reinstating techniques previously used during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Passengers at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and Phuket airports are monitored for fever and symptoms related to Nipah virus. Health advisory cards are also distributed to guide travelers on how to respond if they experience illness.
Officials have also intensified cleaning and disease control preparations at Phuket International Airport, as India's Indigo Airlines operates daily direct flights between Kolkata Airport in West Bengal and Phuket.
In response to public concerns on Monday, Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that no Nipah virus infections have been detected domestically so far, but surveillance levels will remain high.
In Nepal, the government has enhanced surveillance and tightened health checks at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, as well as key land border points with India, to try to prevent the virus from entering the country.
Nepalese authorities have set up health screening points for travelers showing symptoms. Hospitals and border health stations have been instructed to report and manage suspected cases. Officials highlighted challenges posed by the open border and daily movement of people from neighboring West Bengal.
Meanwhile, Taiwan's health authorities are planning to designate Nipah virus infection as a "Category 5 notifiable communicable disease," the highest classification for serious emerging diseases under local law.
This measure, subject to a 60-day public consultation before implementation, will require immediate reporting and special control measures if cases are detected, reflecting concerns over the virus’s high fatality rate and potential for widespread outbreak.
Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control stated that the travel alert level remains at "Yellow" or Level 2, advising travelers to exercise caution when visiting Kerala state in southwest India.
Deputy Director Lin Ming-Cheng of Taiwan's CDC said travel recommendations will be continuously updated in line with changes in the outbreak situation.
Follow international news:https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
Source:independent