Airports across Asia have been put on high alert after India confirmed two cases of the deadly Nipah virus in the state of West Bengal over the past month. It has routinely emerged in Bangladesh and the first case in India was in 2001 in West Bengal, which borders Bangladesh. In 2018, at least 17 people died from Nipah virus in the Indian state of Kerala, and two more died in 2023. “The situation is under constant monitoring and all necessary public health measures are in place,” the Indian health ministry said. Myanmar advised against nonessential travel to West Bengal and China has strengthened disease prevention measures in its border areas.

Source: The Guardian January 29, 2026 20:09 UTC