Reuters has learned about the increased checks at Asian airports due to the Nipah virus

The authorities of Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia have taken urgent measures to prevent the spread of the extremely dangerous Nipah virus outside India after two cases of the disease were detected in that country. This was reported by the Reuters news agency on January 28.

According to the publication, countries have introduced temperature checks at airports and other screening measures. The World Health Organization claims that the Nipah virus is capable of causing rapidly spreading outbreaks of the disease, which kill from 40% to 70% of those who become ill. In addition, there is no approved vaccine or medicine for it.

"The virus, carried by bats and animals such as pigs, can cause fatal fever in humans, accompanied by brain swelling, and can also be transmitted from person to person through close contact," the material says.

At the end of December 2025, two cases of infection with this virus were confirmed in India. Local authorities identified and tracked 196 people who had been in contact with the two cases, but none of them had symptoms, and all tested negative for the virus. The cases in India's West Bengal were the first in the state in almost two decades, following five deaths in 2007.

Hong Kong wheeze: flu incidence in Russia increased by 35 in two weeks%

But the pace began to decrease, Rospotrebnadzor said.

On January 27, the World Health Organization (WHO) assessed the low risk of further spread of the Nipah virus, but stressed that due to insufficient knowledge of the virus, there is a possibility of its spread.

On January 25, Rospotrebnadzor reported no cases of the Nipah virus being imported from India. The press service also added that the Nipah virus can be transmitted to humans from animals, such as bats or pigs.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.