27/01/2026
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27/01/2026
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BANGKOK, Jan 27: The World Health Organization (WHO) states that the risk of further Nipah virus spread from recent cases in India's West Bengal—where five infections have occurred and nearly 100 people are quarantined—is low, with no evidence of increased human-to-human transmission. A WHO official emphasized India's proven capacity to contain such outbreaks, as seen in past incidents, while national and state teams implement recommended public health measures. Meanwhile, Airports across parts of Asia including Nepal, Thailand, Taiwan and Hong Kong have tightened health screening for travelers from India after a Nipah virus outbreak in India's West Bengal state.
Ongoing Challenges and Recommendations
The infection source remains unclear, but exposure risks persist due to Nipah reservoirs in bats across parts of India and Bangladesh, including West Bengal. WHO urges stronger community awareness of risks like consuming date palm sap. This marks India's seventh Nipah outbreak since 2001 and West Bengal's third, following prior incidents in Siliguri (2001) and Nadia (2007), with others in Kerala.
China's Response and Regional Measures
China's National Disease Control Administration reports no Nipah cases domestically and assesses minimal impact from the West Bengal outbreak, given no shared border, though importation risks prompt enhanced surveillance, training, and border precautions. Asian airports in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, and Nepal have intensified health screenings in response