New Delhi, India – Thermal scanning and health declaration forms have returned to the forefront of travel in several Asian countries, following the discovery of a new outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus (NiV) in the Indian state of West Bengal.
These strict measures are driven by global fears of the virus’s pandemic potential and its terrifying mortality rates, which range from 40% to 75%, in the absence of any vaccine or specific treatment so far.
Injuries among medical staff and critical cases
Health authorities in India have reported five cases of COVID-19 among healthcare workers at a private hospital in the Parasat district, including two nurses in the intensive care unit, one of whom is in critical condition.
In response, 110 people who had been in contact with the infected individuals have been placed under strict quarantine.
While authorities maintain that the outbreak remains “limited” and under control, veterinary teams have begun extensive testing of fruit bats at the Alipur Zoo in Kolkata to trace the animal source of the infection.
Although the infections have remained confined to India so far, the lessons learned
from the coronavirus pandemic have prompted neighboring countries to take proactive preventative measures:
Thailand: Has begun rigorous screening of travelers at Bangkok and Phuket airports,
with mandatory health follow-up forms for those arriving from affected areas.
Nepal: Has tightened controls at Kathmandu airport and along its open land border with India.
Taiwan: Authorities are considering classifying Nipah as a “Class 5” disease,
a category reserved for rare infections that pose a threat to national health security.
What is the Nipah virus? And what are the preventative guidelines?
Nipah is classified as a zoonotic virus, transmitted from fruit bats and pigs to humans,
and then through direct person-to-person contact.
The World Health Organization (WHO) lists it among the top 10 most
dangerous emerging diseases for the following reasons:
Deadly symptoms: It begins with fever and headache, rapidly progressing to
severe pneumonia or encephalitis (brain swelling), leading to coma and death.
Shocking mortality rate: Its fatality rate exceeds that of most contemporary epidemics,
with only a small number of infected individuals surviving.
Deceptive incubation period: It ranges from 4 to 14 days, giving the virus ample time to cross borders before any symptoms appear in the carrier.
Health authorities have issued strict recommendations, including:
Washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consumption.
Avoiding drinking raw (unpasteurized) date juice, which may be contaminated by bats.
Avoiding contact with sick or dead animals.
Maintaining frequent handwashing and sanitizing practices when in crowded places or airports.
