Asian countries have ramped up airport screenings for the Nipah virus following two confirmed cases in India’s West Bengal, but experts argue these measures offer little more than public reassurance. Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Pakistan introduced temperature checks this week as precautionary steps against the deadly bat-borne infection, which has a fatality rate of up to 75%.
However, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated on Friday that such screenings are not recommended, emphasizing the low risk of international spread from the current outbreak.
Expert Views on Screening Ineffectiveness
Leading specialists, including Dr. Md Zakiul Hassan from Bangladesh’s icddr,b, assert that the likelihood of a large global epidemic from this Nipah event is very low. Nipah primarily spreads through contaminated fruit or products from infected bats and does not transmit easily between humans, reducing the need for widespread airport interventions.
Professor Piero Olliaro of the University of Oxford described these actions as governments “flexing muscles” to assure citizens, rather than relying on science. He highlighted how temperature screenings failed during COVID-19, missing most cases according to studies, as fevers can stem from various illnesses. Follow-up testing for rare diseases like Nipah is also resource-intensive and impractical at busy airports.
Better Alternatives for Nipah Preparedness
Instead of symbolic measures, experts urge focusing on regions where Nipah recurs annually, such as Bangladesh, to better understand the virus and develop vaccines or treatments.
Olliaro stressed that true preparedness means investing in tools now to protect vulnerable populations and prevent future pandemics if the virus evolves. This approach would address the suffering of those affected and build global resilience. The WHO’s assessment aligns, noting no evidence of heightened international threat.
As countries respond to the Indian cases, the debate underscores the balance between public perception and evidence-based health strategies.