India’s Nipah Virus Outbreak Raises Global Concerns

An outbreak of the Nipah virus in West Bengal, India, has raised concerns in China and Southeast Asia, leading to increased airport health screenings as the Lunar New Year approaches. Two health workers have been confirmed infected, but all traced contacts tested negative, and no treatment or vaccine exists for the virus. Nipah, a zoonotic virus with a high fatality rate, has previously caused outbreaks in Southeast Asia. Current investigations suggest possible transmission from an undiagnosed patient to healthcare workers.