It more frequently transfers to humans from contaminated bats or affected fruit.

The illnesses were confirmed in India in late December. Minor outbreaks are not uncommon, and virologists indicated that the threat to the broader public remains minimal. Several vaccines are in progress but are still in the testing phase.

"While caution is advisable, there is no proof to indicate a wider public health concern at this moment," stated Efstathios Giotis, a lecturer in molecular virology at the University of Essex in the UK.

Singapore’s Communicable Diseases Agency announced on Wednesday that temperature screenings will be implemented at Changi Airport for flights arriving from regions experiencing the infections in India.

"We are also coordinating with our counterparts in South Asia to gain a clearer understanding of the situation. Efforts are underway to create a global platform for nations to report genome sequencing of confirmed cases," the agency remarked in a statement.

A spokesperson for Hong Kong's airport authority mentioned that it was supporting heightened health screening protocols mandated by the health department at Hong Kong International Airport, which includes temperature assessments at gates for incoming passengers from India.

Earlier this week, Thailand reinforced airport screening protocols, with neighboring Malaysia following suit.

Thailand has designated specific parking areas for aircraft arriving from regions with Nipah infections, according to its health ministry, while passengers are required to fill out health declarations before passing through immigration.

Malaysia's health ministry indicated it was enhancing readiness through health screenings at international entry points, especially for those arriving from identified high-risk nations.

China's disease control agency remarked on Tuesday that no Nipah infections had been found in the country, though there are concerns regarding potential imported cases, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.

Nepal, which shares a busy border with India, stated that it was on "high alert" and had intensified screening for incoming travelers.

The two individuals infected in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal in late December were health workers, and both are receiving treatment at a local hospital, a district health officer stated to Reuters.

Authorities have identified and tracked down 196 contacts associated with these two cases, with none exhibiting symptoms and all testing negative for the virus, the Indian health ministry noted in a statement late Tuesday.

"Inflated and erroneous figures about Nipah virus cases are being disseminated," the statement added.

"Intensified surveillance, laboratory examinations, and field inquiries were conducted... which facilitated timely management of the cases."

Nipah not new to India

Nipah was first recognized just over 25 years ago during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia and Singapore, although researchers believe it has been circulating within flying foxes, or fruit bats, for thousands of years.

The WHO designates Nipah as a priority pathogen due to the lack of approved vaccines or treatments, its high fatality rate, and the concern that the virus could mutate to become more transmissible.

India regularly experiences sporadic infections, especially in the southern state of Kerala, regarded as one of the world’s highest-risk areas for Nipah.

The virus has been associated with numerous fatalities there since it first appeared in the state in 2018. Bangladesh also frequently reports infections.

As of December 2025, there have been 750 confirmed Nipah infections worldwide, with 415 fatalities, according to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, which is funding a vaccine trial to combat Nipah.

The West Bengal occurrences mark the state's first in nearly two decades, following five fatal infections in 2007, local media reported.