Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has begun screening air passengers arriving from India for signs of Nipah virus infection, following reports of a cluster of cases in India’s eastern state of West Bengal. The screening, launched on Sunday, targets travellers arriving at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, with authorities focusing on passengers coming from West Bengal after five confirmed infections and nearly 100 quarantines were reported in the state.
Thai officials said passengers and relevant agencies have been cooperative, according to a report by Thai media outlet The Nation Thailand. The ministry has also issued a “Health Beware Card” for travellers arriving from risk areas, advising them to seek medical attention immediately if they develop symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, cough, difficulty breathing, drowsiness, confusion or seizures. The card specifically warns those who have had contact with bats, sick animals or infected individuals within 21 days prior to arriving in Thailand.
The screening in Thailand comes as Indian authorities race to contain the Nipah outbreak, with The Independent reporting that three new infections were confirmed earlier in the week, adding to two existing cases among nurses at a private hospital in Barasat near Kolkata. The nurses, one male and one female, had tested positive and were part of the expanding cluster that prompted the quarantine of nearly 100 people.
Neighboring Nepal has also heightened its readiness to prevent the virus from crossing its border, according to Nepalese media outlet The Annapurna Express. The government has implemented preventive measures including health screenings for passengers arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport and at major border points with India. Prakash Budhathoki, spokesperson for Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population, said surveillance has been intensified particularly at border crossings in Koshi Province, with similar checks ordered at other border points.
The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies Nipah virus as a priority pathogen due to its epidemic potential. WHO notes that there are currently no vaccines or specific treatments for Nipah virus infection, which can range from mild symptoms to severe respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. The virus is mainly carried by fruit bats of the Pteropus species, and human infections can occur through contaminated food or direct contact. With fatality rates in past outbreaks ranging between 40 and 75 percent, Nipah remains a serious public health threat wherever it appears, as highlighted by India’s The Economic Times.
