How to prevent Nipah virus infection when traveling abroad

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.K.’s National Travel Health Network and Center, the World Health Organization (WHO), and authorities in several Asian countries have issued guidance for people traveling to or from areas where Nipah virus cases have been detected.

Before traveling

Travelers are advised to check and follow guidance from local health authorities regarding safety, security, and any travel or health restrictions at their destination. Regulations may vary by country and can include entry and exit requirements, health declarations, or airport screening measures.

Travelers should also review outbreak updates, disease prevention advice, recommended vaccinations, and information on airports implementing quarantine or surveillance procedures.

During travel and stay abroad

The U.S. CDC said the risk of Nipah virus infection for travelers remains very low, provided basic precautions are followed.

Travelers should practice good personal hygiene, including frequent handwashing with soap and clean water, and wearing masks when appropriate and avoid areas where bats live or roost.

They are reminded not to consume raw date palm sap, as Nipah virus can survive in it for several days. If used, it should be boiled beforehand.

Washing and peeling fruits before eating; avoiding fruit picked from the ground or showing signs of being eaten by animals are required.

Travelers are advised to minimize contact with bats and pigs, particularly in rural or farm settings, avoid touching objects or surfaces that may be contaminated by bats, and steer clear of close contact with people infected with the Nipah virus, especially exposure to blood or bodily fluids.

They should wear gloves and protective gear when handling sick animals or animal products.

Travelers visiting family or friends after returning from abroad may face higher risks depending on previous exposure, and seek medical attention promptly if symptoms develop while abroad.

The incubation period for Nipah virus typically ranges from four to 21 days, though longer periods have been reported in rare cases. There is currently no licensed vaccine to prevent infection.

Early symptoms usually resemble the flu and include fever, headache, muscle pain, and fatigue. Some patients may develop respiratory symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, or pneumonia.

The most severe complication is encephalitis, marked by neurological symptoms such as confusion, seizures, or coma, which can appear days to weeks after illness onset. Meningitis may also occur in some cases.

After returning home

Travelers who develop symptoms after returning should seek immediate medical care and inform healthcare providers about their recent travel history.

Indian authorities race to contain a Nipah virus cluster in West Bengal where five cases have been confirmed in areas near Kolkata, including infections among healthcare workers, China's Global Times reported.

Around 100 people have been quarantined after the virus was detected at a hospital.

A doctor, a nurse and a staff member tested positive following the first two confirmed cases, a male patient and a female nurse, the U.K.'s The Independent reported.

Several Asian countries such as Thailand, Nepal and Vietnam are currently on heightened alert following confirmed cases in India.

In Thailand, officers at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports in Bangkok and Phuket airport have begun enhanced screening of inbound passengers, particularly from West Bengal since Sunday, according to the Bangkok Post.

The Vietnam Administration of Disease Prevention under the Ministry of Health has issued an urgent dispatch calling for enhanced surveillance and prevention of the Nipah virus at border gates nationwide.