Pakistan has ordered enhanced health checks for travellers entering the country following confirmation of two Nipah virus cases in India, becoming the latest Asian nation to strengthen preventative measures against the deadly infection.
The move comes as several countries across the region increase airport and border surveillance in response to the outbreak.
Mandatory Checks at Airports and Borders
Pakistan’s Border Health Services department said it is now essential to reinforce disease prevention and monitoring at all points of entry.
“All travellers will undergo thermal screening and clinical assessment at ports of entry,” the department said, noting that the measures apply to airports, seaports and land crossings.
Travellers will also be required to provide details of their travel history over the previous 21 days to determine whether they have passed through areas classified as high-risk or affected by Nipah.
Regional Response Gathers Pace
Pakistan joins Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam in stepping up screening procedures.
In Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, local health authorities ordered additional checks at Noi Bai International Airport, particularly for passengers arriving from India and the eastern state of West Bengal, where the two cases were detected in late December.
Passengers are being screened using body-temperature scanners to identify potential infections. Officials said the approach allows for rapid isolation and epidemiological investigation if suspected cases are found.
Vietnamese authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have also tightened health controls at international border crossings.
Limited Travel Between Pakistan and India
Health officials noted that the risk of direct transmission between Pakistan and India remains limited, as there are no direct flights and cross-border travel has been minimal, especially since the two neighbours experienced their most serious fighting in decades in May last year.
India’s Ministry of Health said it has traced 196 contacts linked to the two confirmed cases, with none showing symptoms and all testing negative for the virus.
What Is the Nipah Virus?
Nipah is a rare but often severe viral disease that spreads mainly from infected animals — particularly fruit bats — to humans. Human-to-human transmission can occur but usually requires prolonged and close contact.
The virus can cause fever and inflammation of the brain and has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. According to the World Health Organization, the case fatality rate ranges from 40 to 75 percent, depending on the capacity of local health systems.
A Persistent Global Health Threat
Nipah was first identified more than 25 years ago during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia and Singapore, though scientists believe it has circulated in fruit bat populations for thousands of years.
The WHO classifies Nipah as a priority pathogen due to its high lethality and pandemic potential. India reports sporadic infections almost every year, particularly in the southern state of Kerala, considered one of the world’s highest-risk regions.
As of December 2025, there have been 750 confirmed Nipah infections worldwide, resulting in 415 deaths, according to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, which is supporting vaccine research to combat the virus.