At least five cases of the strange disease have been recorded, but authorities are not taking any chances as fears grow it could be the “next pandemic” to hit the world
Travellers are being subjected to intense health screenings reminiscent of the coronavirus pandemic. It comes after a new contagious disease is appearing to take hold, with some potentially dangerous symptoms, including the swelling of the brain.
Some airports in India’s West Bengal state have brought back COVID-era health restrictions amid an ongoing outbreak of a potentially lethal virus. Currently, just five cases of the disease have been detected in the state, but it has proven to be a deadly condition.
Other airports have started to screen passengers coming from India in an attempt to control the spread of the virus. Those who may have symptoms are now being transferred to local quarantine zones to wait the potential infection out.
According to the Sun, several cases of Nipah virus have been detected in the province, home to some of the country’s biggest cities like Kolkata. The virus is known for its high lethality rate, as it can kill around 75% of the people it infects, as well as having no cure.
Nipah virus has already earned an ominous reputation, having served as the inspiration for Hollywood blockbuster “Contagion”, starring Gwyneth Paltrow. The virus is transmitted from animals — such as bats and pigs — to humans, and can even spread from human to human.
Scientists have said that Nipah could “absolutely be the cause of a new pandemic”, due to its ability to be spread by bats — similar to how Covid began in China in 2019. Once infected, Nipah targets the respiratory system and can cause fatal brain swelling; all without a vaccine to protect against the disease.
After the small outbreak, many of India’s neighbours are taking no chances and have introduced strict measures in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. Nepal, Thailand and Taiwan are just some of the countries who are setting up control zones for passengers coming from India.
Passengers traveling to Phuket, Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports from India will have to face extra screening measures. Anyone who has a high fever or symptoms that could point towards the virus will then be brought to facilities designed to contain the virus.
It’s not just airports that are bringing in extra measures to contain the spread of the virus to West Bengal. Nepal is starting to increase health checks on its land border with the Indian province in the hopes of keeping the condition outside of their country.
Authorities in India have said that the five patients currently infected with the condition are all healthcare workers based in a private hospital in the city of Barasat. Of the five, two of the nurses remain in a critical condition and currently in a coma, according to officials.
On top of the five that have already been confirmed to have the disease, another 110 people who are believed to have been in contact with the patients have been put into self-isolation. It comes as the World Health Organisation has issued its concern on the illness, saying it has the potential to cause a pandemic.
No cases of Nipah virus have ever been formally recorded in the UK, but the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has already taken stock of the deadly virus, adding it to its list of diseases considered to be the greatest future threat to the public.
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