Nipah Virus Outbreak in India: Asia Reintroduces Airport Screenings Amid High Mortality

Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic disease that spreads from animals to humans, and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or direct person-to-person contact. /Image Reuters

Healthcare

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CNBC TV18•27-01-2026, 14:44

Nipah Virus Outbreak in India: Asia Reintroduces Airport Screenings Amid High Mortality

•Deadly Nipah virus cases have emerged in India, with Kerala and West Bengal identified as endemic regions for the highly infectious disease.
•The virus carries a high mortality rate of 40-75% and can cause severe encephalitis or respiratory illness.
•A recent outbreak in West Bengal infected five health workers, with 100-200 people currently under investigation.
•Airports across Asia, including Thailand, Nepal, and Taiwan, have reintroduced COVID-style health checks and thermal screenings for arriving passengers.
•Chinese scientists have identified VV116, an oral nucleoside drug approved for COVID-19, as a promising candidate for treating Nipah virus infection.

Why It Matters: Nipah virus outbreak in India prompts Asia-wide airport screenings; no vaccine available, but new treatment shows promise.

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