Australia has been advised to tighten border measures for travellers arriving from India's West Bengal after a Nipah virus outbreak prompted several Asian countries to introduce new precautions. 'Australia has all the tests ready so if you suspect anybody, you test; and if positive, you restrict their movements. 'Nipah transmission between humans has been reported via close contact, such as caring for a sick person. In the worst cases, Nipah can be a rapid and brutal illness because it can cause severe inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and acute respiratory failure. There are currently no approved vaccines or drugs that specifically target Nipah virus infection.

Source: Daily Mail January 30, 2026 14:00 UTC