Why Asia is reintroducing Covid-style screening for travelers from this Indian state

Around 100 people have been quarantined in West Bengal after the virus was detected at a hospital. A doctor, a nurse and another hospital worker tested positive after two earlier cases were confirmed in healthcare staff from the same district.

In Thailand, health authorities have stepped up screening at major airports, including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and Phuket, for passengers arriving from West Bengal. Travellers are being checked for fever and other symptoms, and given health advisory cards.

Thailand’s public health minister Anutin Charnvirakul said no Nipah cases had been recorded in the country so far, but monitoring would continue. “Thailand’s Department of Disease Control screens travellers from West Bengal at major airports amid the Nipah outbreak,” the Thai government said.

Passengers showing symptoms may be taken to quarantine facilities, local media reported. Cleaning and disease-control measures have also been increased at Phuket airport, which has direct flights from Kolkata.

In Nepal, health checks have been intensified at Kathmandu’s international airport and at key land border crossings with India. A health ministry spokesperson, Dr Prakash Budhathoki, said screening had begun at airports and border points to prevent the virus from entering the country.

Taiwan is planning to classify Nipah infection as a top-level notifiable disease, which would require immediate reporting and control measures. Its health authorities said travel alerts would be reviewed as the situation develops.

The World Health Organisation has listed Nipah as a priority pathogen due to its epidemic risk. Past outbreaks have shown fatality rates between 40 and 75 per cent, The Independent reported.