Nipah outbreak in West Bengal prompts regional airport screenings

An outbreak of Nipah virus in India’s West Bengal state has led to airport screening at key Asian entry points, with Thailand and Nepal beginning checks on travelers from the region. India has confirmed two cases and is tracing and testing contacts, though no cases have been reported outside India yet. Nipah carries a high fatality rate (40–75%) and currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment, prompting ongoing regional monitoring and heightened public health measures as WHO flags Nipah as a top-priority pathogen.