Should China be concerned about Nipah virus outbreak in India?

Studies of Nipah virus circumstances in India have triggered anxiousness in China forward of the Lunar New Yr vacation. A number of circumstances of the incurable virus have been detected in West Bengal, resulting in screening measures at airports throughout Asia.

Nipah virus (NiV) may be deadly. Nevertheless, consultants say the chance of transmission stays low.

We have a look.

What’s the Nipah virus?

The
Nipah virus is transmitted from animals to people after they are available contact with the bodily fluids of contaminated bats and pigs. The virus can even unfold via contaminated meals or immediately between people, as per the World Well being Group (WHO).

Individuals who contract the virus exhibit a variety of signs, and even none in any respect.

The preliminary signs that contaminated people present are fever, complications, muscle ache, vomiting and sore throat. “This may be adopted by dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, and neurological indicators that point out acute encephalitis,” in response to the WHO.

Encephalitis causes irritation of the mind, which can happen in extreme circumstances.

“Some individuals can even expertise atypical pneumonia and extreme respiratory issues, together with acute respiratory misery,” as per the WHO.

The Nipah virus has a excessive fatality charge of 40 per cent to 75 per cent. At present, there isn’t any remedy or vaccine for the an infection.

The Nipah virus was first recognized in 1998 throughout an outbreak amongst pig farmers in Malaysia. The illness unfold to Singapore the subsequent 12 months.

Greater than 100 individuals in Bangladesh have died due to Nipah since 2001.

Observe these important precautions to forestall Nipah Virus an infection. Keep alert, keep knowledgeable, and comply with advisories issued by native well being authorities.#NipahVirus #PublicHealth #HealthForAll pic.twitter.com/itTuZA18ev

— Ministry of Well being (@MoHFW_INDIA) January 22, 2026

The virus has additionally been detected in India, with outbreaks reported in West Bengal in 2001 and 2007.

Kerala noticed its first outbreak of the brain-damaging Nipah virus in 2018 when 19 circumstances had been reported. Of those, 17 had been deadly. In 2023, two out of six confirmed circumstances had died.

Newest Nipah outbreak in India

5 healthcare staff in West Bengal are reported to have been contaminated with the Nipah virus. The circumstances had been discovered at a non-public hospital in Barasat within the North 24 Parganas district earlier this month.

Two nurses are being handled in an intensive coronary care unit, certainly one of whom stays in “very important” situation. About 110 individuals who had been involved with the contaminated healthcare staff have been quarantined, as per BBC.

Following the circumstances, a survey carried out on bats in West Bengal didn’t discover any energetic Nipah virus an infection. However antibodies had been detected in a single specimen, indicating prior publicity, a senior state forest division official mentioned final week.

“The findings are reassuring, however warning is warranted. Surveillance and preventive measures will proceed till we’re absolutely assured that there isn’t any threat,” a senior official of the West Bengal Well being Division advised PTI.

Why China is anxious of Nipah outbreak

The resurgence of the Nipah virus circumstances in West Bengal has raised issues in China forward of the
Lunar New Yr vacation, when hundreds of thousands journey.

As per a South China Morning Publish (SCMP) report, matters associated to the virus outbreak in India trended on China’s social media platforms on Monday (January 26).

“It’s so scary, particularly with the Spring Competition arising. I don’t need to expertise one other lockdown,” a web based consumer mentioned, referring to the Lunar New Yr vacation.

One other requested, “Can’t we quickly shut the journey channel with India?”

India and China eased visa processes for one another’s nationals final month, with an intention to spice up journey.

China is anxious concerning the well being risk because it comes earlier than the Lunar New Yr, which witnesses an enormous journey rush or chunyun. This 12 months, the 40-day journey season will start on February 2 and run till March 13.

China has added Nipah to its monitored infectious illness record following the outbreak in India, Yicai China reported.

China’s Frontier Well being and Quarantine Regulation, which was enforced final 12 months, listed the Nipah virus as one of many nation’s focused pathogens.

In a current report, China’s Centre for Illness Management and Prevention known as for “heightened vigilance” in opposition to imported infectious ailments through the journey season, warning that diseases similar to malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and Lassa fever might be contracted by travellers coming back from abroad. Nipah, nevertheless, was not particularly talked about.

Nevertheless, well being consultants have dismissed the issues of an outbreak in China from imported infections.

In response to Zhao Haiyan, a Wuhan College virologist who research extremely pathogenic viruses, together with Nipah, some neighbouring nations have reported sporadic outbreaks practically yearly for the reason that virus emerged in 1998, whereas China has not recorded any imported circumstances.

Zhao mentioned this didn’t point out that there was no threat, however the Nipah virus had “comparatively restricted transmission pathways in contrast with extremely transmissible respiratory pathogens” similar to influenza or Sars-CoV-2, chargeable for the coronavirus pandemic.

Zhao mentioned that human-to-human transmission may happen required shut contact with bodily fluids from contaminated sufferers or publicity to excessive viral hundreds, permitting the virus to enter via mucosal surfaces. Thus, the opportunity of a Nipah outbreak in China was believed to be low below present situations, she mentioned.

Talking to The Nationwide, Dr Sagar Kawale, a guide neurologist at Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital in Dubai, mentioned these desirous to journey to India shouldn’t be overly anxious.

“For many travellers, the general threat stays low until there was shut publicity to an contaminated particular person or time spent in a high-risk setting similar to a healthcare setting,” mentioned Dr Kawale.

“Nipah is a uncommon an infection and, even when circumstances do seem, they’re usually restricted and localised moderately than widespread like influenza or Covid-19. The important thing message is that whereas it’s uncommon for vacationers, it’s taken severely due to the potential severity of the sickness.”

Dr Kawale suggested travellers to keep away from shut contact with individuals exhibiting signs of fever and cough.

“Travellers ought to cut back publicity by avoiding shut contact with people who’re unwell, notably these with fever and cough, sustaining constant hand hygiene, and avoiding fruits that could be contaminated, similar to half-eaten, fallen or uncovered street-cut fruit,” he mentioned.

“Train further warning in outbreak areas by not visiting hospitals until needed; for healthcare travellers, utilizing masks, gloves and strict contact precautions is essential. Third, if sickness develops, keep away from persevering with journey or mixing in crowds, search medical consideration early, and clearly inform the physician about current journey and issues relating to attainable Nipah publicity so acceptable isolation precautions may be taken promptly.”

Asia on alert

The Nipah virus has sparked issues throughout Asia, with a number of nations taking preventive measures.

Thailand has began screening passengers at three worldwide airports in Bangkok and Phuket that obtain flights from West Bengal, reported BBC. Passengers from these flights have been advised to make well being declarations.

The parks and wildlife division in Thailand has additionally imposed heightened screenings in pure vacationer points of interest.

Jurai Wongswasdi, a spokeswoman for the Division for Illness Management, advised BBC Thai authorities are “pretty assured” about defending in opposition to an outbreak in Thailand.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul mentioned on Sunday, “Public well being screening methods have been adjusted based mostly on the mannequin that we used through the Covid-19 outbreak in Thailand.”

Nepal has additionally began screening arrivals at Kathmandu airport and different land border factors with India.

Well being authorities in Taiwan have proposed to record the Nipah virus as a “Class 5 illness”, designated for rising or uncommon infections with main public well being dangers that want fast reporting and particular management measures.

South Korea had already categorised Nipah as a top-tier infectious illness that requires fast reporting and isolation, reported The Korea Herald. 

Hong Kong’s Centre for Well being Safety mentioned that it will “monitor the state of affairs and implement acceptable prevention and management measures based mostly on threat assessments to safeguard public well being and the well-being of residents”.

With inputs from businesses