The two confirmed Nipah cases in West Bengal, India, have put several South Asian countries on alert. Despite the World Health Organisation (WHO) categorising it as "low risk", many countries have tightened airport screening.
Two cases of Nipah virus were reported in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal in December last year. According to the health officials, so far, no spread of the virus has been reported.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday said that the risk of the Nipah virus spreading from India is low. WHO also added that it does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions. It further asserted that India had the capacity to contain such outbreaks.
In an update shared on its website, WHO said that there is no evidence of increased human-to-human transmission and that the "national, regional, and global risk remains low."
How countries are responding to the Nipah Virus alert
Among the countries that tightened the airport screening checks were Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, China and Vietnam.
Even Kyrgyzstan has also banned animals and animal products from India and tightened the airport screening. According to Russia's TASS news agency, strict infection control measures were in place for passengers arriving on international flights to Bishkek and Osh due to the spread.
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Nipah virus spreads from animals to humans via person-to-person contact or by consuming contaminated food. Carried by fruit bats and animals such as pigs, the virus can cause fever and brain inflammation.
No need for panic
The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday said that there is no need for panic as all necessary public health measures are in place. "The situation is under constant monitoring," the ministry said.
"A total of 196 contacts linked to the confirmed cases have been identified, traced, monitored, and tested. All traced contacts have been found asymptomatic and have tested negative for Nipah Virus Disease," the ministry said in a statement.
The statement also highlighted that coordinated efforts between central and state health agencies—including enhanced surveillance and field investigations—led to the swift containment of the outbreak.