Fresh cases in India’s West Bengal trigger quarantines, border controls, and emergency health checks across the region.

A renewed outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus in India’s West Bengal state has set off alarm bells across Asia, prompting urgent airport screenings and tightened border controls as authorities scramble to contain the threat.

Nipah, one of the world’s most lethal infectious diseases, carries a fatality rate of up to 75 percent. The latest flare-up has already led to the hospitalisation of five healthcare workers, while more than 100 people have been placed under quarantine to curb further transmission.

The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies Nipah as a priority pathogen—on the same watchlist as COVID-19—due to its high mortality rate and epidemic potential. Despite this, there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the virus.

The infection is primarily spread through contact with fruit bats and pigs but can also transmit from person to person. Symptoms range from severe respiratory illness to acute encephalitis, a dangerous brain inflammation that is often fatal.

In response, countries across Asia are moving swiftly to protect their borders. Thailand has introduced mandatory health screenings and declaration forms at major international airports in Bangkok and Phuket for travelers arriving from West Bengal. Nepal has begun health checks at Kathmandu’s international airport and key land border crossings, while Taiwan is preparing to classify Nipah as a “Category 5” disease—its highest alert level for public health threats.

Health experts warn that past outbreaks have demonstrated Nipah’s capacity to spread rapidly if left unchecked. The current measures, officials say, are designed to prevent a local outbreak from escalating into a wider regional health emergency.