Nipah Virus Triggers Airport Health Checks for Flights from India
Airlines and airports responded to the recent Nipah virus outbreak in India by tightening health screening for passengers.
The outbreak, confirmed in West Bengal, prompted several Asian countries to introduce COVID-style health checks at key international gateways. The Nipah virus is a zoonotic infection transmitted from animals, often fruit bats, to humans. It can cause fever, respiratory illness, and brain inflammation with a high fatality rate.
Enhanced Screening for Flights from India
Thailand implemented enhanced screening for passengers arriving from West Bengal, India at several major airports. Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang International Airport added temperature checks, health declarations, and monitoring for symptomatic travellers. Phuket International Airport also strengthened disease screening for the virus.
In Malaysia, health authorities boosted preparedness with increased surveillance at international ports of entry, especially for flights arriving from India. Singapore’s health agency introduced temperature screening for passengers on flights from affected Indian regions, aiming to identify potential symptoms at arrival. Hong Kong International Airport also facilitated enhanced health checks for these passengers.
Indonesia tightened screening at airports including I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, installing thermal scanners and increasing surveillance of arrivals from high-risk areas. Across Asia, public health officials monitored incoming travellers with temperature checks, health questionnaires, and isolation protocols for suspected cases.
Airline and Airport Impacts
Airlines flying from India were advised to conduct preliminary health checks before departure on affected routes, including those into Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. Airports designated specialised screening stations at jet bridges and arrival halls to process health declarations and temperature data.
Authorities sometimes assigned specific parking bays for aircraft arriving from regions with confirmed Nipah infections to limit potential exposure among other passengers.
Travel Risk and WHO Guidance
Despite the heightened measures, the World Health Organization (WHO) assessed the risk of Nipah virus spreading beyond India as low and did not recommend travel or trade restrictions. The WHO emphasised that there was no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission or international spread as of the latest updates.
Health agencies continue to monitor the outbreak and encourage travellers to stay informed, report symptoms early, and follow airline and airport health guidance where screenings remain in place.