Pakistan strengthens Nipah screening at borders after India reports cases

LAHORE/HANOI/HYDERABAD: Pakistan has become the latest Asian country to step up preventive measures against the deadly Nipah virus, ordering enhanced screening of travelers at airports, seaports, and land borders after India reported two infections in West Bengal.

The Border Health Services Department said all incoming travelers will undergo thermal screening and clinical assessments, and must provide a 21-day transit history to determine if they passed through high-risk regions. “It has become imperative to strengthen preventative and surveillance measures at Pakistan’s borders,” the department said in a statement.

Although there are no direct flights between Pakistan and India and cross-border travel is limited, authorities are acting proactively to prevent any spillover.

Regional response: Asia ramps up airport checks

Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam have also tightened screening at airports. In Vietnam, Hanoi’s health department announced temperature checks at Noi Bai airport, particularly for passengers from India and West Bengal, to allow timely isolation and epidemiological investigation. Ho Chi Minh City has implemented similar measures at international crossings.

India downplays outbreak, reassures public

Indian authorities insist there is no outbreak and have traced 196 contacts linked to the two cases, with none showing symptoms. The patients, both healthcare workers, are under treatment; the male patient is recovering, while the female patient remains critical.

A federal health ministry official told Reuters, “There is no outbreak, there were just two cases in one district in West Bengal and there is no spread. There is no need to screen passengers at Indian airports.”

Nipah virus: high-risk pathogen

The Nipah virus is a rare, often fatal infection transmitted from infected animals, mainly fruit bats, to humans. It can cause fever and brain inflammation, with a case fatality rate of 40–75 per cent, according to the World Health Organization.

First identified over 25 years ago in Malaysia and Singapore, the virus circulates naturally in flying foxes. India occasionally reports sporadic infections, particularly in Kerala. Globally, as of December 2025, there have been 750 confirmed cases, including 415 deaths, according to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, which is funding a vaccine trial.