Indian authorities have announced the successful containment of a Nipah virus outbreak, which was identified through the confirmation of two cases in the eastern state of West Bengal. In light of this development, several Asian nations are intensifying health screenings and airport surveillance for travelers arriving from India.

According to India's Health Ministry, the identified Nipah virus cases, which emerged in December, have resulted in the thorough tracing and testing of contacts. Although specific details on the patients were not released, the Ministry stated that 196 contacts were traced and tested negative for the virus.

"The situation is under constant monitoring, and all necessary public health measures are in place," the Ministry affirmed, signaling a proactive approach to managing the outbreak.

Nipah is a zoonotic virus, first recognized during an outbreak in the 1990s in Malaysia, which transmits through fruit bats, pigs, and human-to-human contact. There currently exists no vaccine for this virus which can manifest in severe symptoms such as high fevers, convulsions, and vomiting. Supportive care remains the only treatment for affected patients.

The World Health Organization estimates the fatality rate of the Nipah virus to be between 40 and 75 percent, which significantly exceeds the lethality associated with the coronavirus.

While no cases of the virus have been reported outside of India, precautionary measures have been implemented across several Asian countries. These actions came in the wake of early media reports suggesting a rise in Nipah cases in India, although health officials described those reports as "speculative and incorrect."

Countries such as Indonesia and Thailand have stepped up their airport screening protocols. These enhanced measures now include health declarations, temperature checks, and visual monitoring of incoming passengers. Specifically, Thailand's Department of Disease Control reported the deployment of thermal scanners at the arrival gates for direct flights from West Bengal at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport.

In Myanmar, the Health Ministry is advising against nonessential travel to West Bengal and recommending that travelers seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms within 14 days of their visit. The Ministry noted that fever surveillance at airports, established during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been intensified for incoming passengers from India.

On the same day, Vietnam's Health Ministry emphasized the importance of strict food safety practices and has instructed local authorities to enhance monitoring efforts at border crossings, health facilities, and within local communities, according to state media.

Additionally, China announced the reinforcement of measures aimed at disease prevention in border regions. Health authorities there have begun conducting risk assessments and have ramped up training for medical staff, as well as enhancing monitoring and testing capabilities.

Previous Nipah outbreaks were reported in West Bengal in 2001 and 2007, while most recent cases have predominantly occurred in the southern state of Kerala. A significant outbreak in 2018 resulted in at least 17 fatalities in Kerala.

Narayana Multispeciality Hospital, where the recent Nipah cases have been detected since December, is located in Barasat, an area within West Bengal.