Several countries have tightened health screening at airports after cases of the deadly Nipah virus were reported in India’s eastern state of West Bengal, raising concerns over possible cross-border spread.

Following the detection of infections, Thailand, Nepal and Taiwan have begun monitoring the health of passengers arriving from West Bengal, according to a report by the British newspaper The Independent.

The measures mirror coronavirus-era protocols aimed at early detection and containment.

Health authorities in West Bengal confirmed five Nipah virus cases on January 11.

The infected include members of the medical staff at a private hospital in the state. Reports said two nurses were among those affected after treating a patient who showed symptoms of the Nipah virus but died before a formal diagnosis.

In response, at least 100 people who had close contact with the infected patients have been placed under home quarantine and remain under strict medical observation.

Thailand’s Ministry of Health has introduced enhanced screening at major airports for passengers arriving from Kolkata.

Indian airline IndiGo operates daily direct flights from Kolkata to Phuket, where arriving passengers are now undergoing rigorous health checks.

Nepal has also stepped up preventive measures at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport and along its land border crossings with India.

Taiwan, meanwhile, has maintained a travel alert for India’s southern state of Kerala and has advised travellers to exercise caution.

The Nipah virus was first identified in 1998 in Malaysia. The initial outbreak was reported in a village in the state of Perak called Kampung Sungai Nipah, from which the virus takes its name.

Experts say the virus is rarely transmitted to humans but is primarily spread through food contaminated by fruit bats.

In rural areas, unprocessed date palm sap, commonly consumed during winter, has also been identified as a potential source of infection.

Indian media reported that the government has deployed a National Joint Outbreak Response Team to West Bengal to curb the spread. Teams from the National Institute of Medical Research are collecting and testing bat samples from Kolkata Zoo and the surrounding areas.

The World Health Organisation has classified the Nipah virus as highly dangerous. There is currently no approved treatment or vaccine.

Early symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting and sore throat. Severe cases may develop dizziness, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, acute pneumonia and breathing difficulties.

According to medical experts, some infected individuals may remain asymptomatic.

However, in severe cases, the virus can cause encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, which can be fatal. Past outbreaks have recorded mortality rates ranging from 40 to 75 per cent.

India’s health department has urged the public to adopt preventive measures, avoid contaminated food, and seek immediate medical attention if any suspicious symptoms appear.