Thailand has announced enhanced health screening for all flights arriving from India’s West Bengal, citing concerns over the Nipah virus.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand said the measures will take effect from 00:00 local time on Monday and are aimed at preventing the virus from entering the country.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the authority said the screening protocols will be adjusted dynamically based on how the situation evolves. Airlines have been instructed to conduct preliminary health checks at departure points. Passengers showing symptoms that require further assessment must present relevant medical certificates before boarding and are required to follow public health guidelines during the flight.
On arrival in Thailand, all travellers from West Bengal will undergo temperature screening and must complete a health declaration form. Dedicated screening stations have been set up in jet bridge areas at designated airports to facilitate the process.
Thai media reports said direct flights operate between Kolkata and three major airports in Thailand, Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and Phuket, where the new screening measures have already been implemented.
Authorities said no Nipah virus cases have been reported in Thailand so far.
According to the World Health Organization and other health agencies, the Nipah virus primarily affects the lungs and brain. Symptoms include fever, headache, drowsiness, confusion, and coma, and the mortality rate exceeds 40 percent among infected patients.
Nipah virus is zoonotic and can spread from animals to humans through contaminated food or via human-to-human transmission. Infected individuals may experience illness ranging from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory disease and fatal encephalitis. The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, leading to major economic losses.
The virus was first identified in 1999 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia.