Summary: Five Nipah cases in India, one critical. High fatality rate, no cure. China adds Nipah to quarantine law, monitors arrivals. No cases in China yet. Thailand screens Indian tourists.
Source: OT-Team(G), 新华社, 央视新闻, 第一财经
An outbreak of Nipah virus infection has been reported in India, Xinhua News Agency reports, with China and other neighboring countries stepping up surveillance.
Current cases are concentrated in India's West Bengal state. Five confirmed infections have been reported so far, with at least one patient in critical condition. Nearly 100 close contacts have been asked to undergo home quarantine as a precaution.
The virus was initially detected in a nurse at a private hospital near Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. Authorities have since identified three additional infections among medical staff, raising concerns about exposure risk in healthcare settings.
About the Nipah Virus
Nipah virus is a zoonotic RNA virus, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. Fruit bats and pigs are considered the primary natural hosts. The virus is associated with a high case fatality rate, estimated at 40–75 percent. The incubation period typically ranges from 4 to 14 days.
There is currently no specific vaccine or proven antiviral treatment for Nipah virus infection. Clinical management focuses on symptom control and supportive care.
Human infection often occurs through contact with contaminated food or infected animals. Early symptoms may include fever, headache, breathing difficulties, cough, sore throat, diarrhea, muscle pain, and pronounced fatigue. High-risk groups include frontline healthcare workers, family members of patients, farmers, livestock handlers, and slaughterhouse workers. Individuals with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop severe disease.
Epidemiologists recommend strengthened surveillance in affected areas, prompt reporting of suspected cases, and tighter controls on animal trade. The most effective preventive measure is to avoid contact with sick animals—particularly bats and pigs—in outbreak regions, and to steer clear of food that may be contaminated by animals, such as raw date palm sap or partially eaten fruit.
Regional Context
Nipah virus is not new to Asia. A major outbreak between 1998 and 1999 in Malaysia and Singapore resulted in more than 100 deaths. Cases are reported in parts of Asia almost every year, with varying levels of risk in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Madagascar, the Philippines, and Thailand.
In response to the current situation and increased arrivals of Indian tourists, Chiang Mai International Airport in Thailand has upgraded health screening procedures for international arrivals. Authorities have activated proactive public health response mechanisms modeled on earlier measures used during the COVID-19 pandemic and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreaks.
These measures include temperature checks for all incoming international passengers and the use of thermal imaging equipment to detect abnormalities. Immigration authorities are also strengthening travel history checks, with particular attention to travelers who have visited or transited through affected areas within the previous 14 to 21 days.
Situation in China
No related cases have been reported in China to date.
Under the revised Frontier Health and Quarantine Law of the People's Republic of China, updated on June 28, 2024, Nipah virus disease is listed among monitored infectious diseases, alongside conditions such as COVID-19, HIV/AIDS, Zika virus disease, and chikungunya.
In accordance with the law, individuals identified as having or being suspected of having a quarantinable infectious disease are subject to immediate on-site control measures by customs authorities. Local disease control departments at or above the county level must be notified promptly and are responsible for organizing transfer to designated medical institutions for isolation treatment or medical observation.
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