A minor outbreak of the Nipah virus in India has caused mass panic at several media outlets. The outbreak occurred at a private hospital in India’s West Bengal state and has triggered not only a wave of media panic, but also precautionary screenings at several Asian airports.

That is despite local health authorities stating the situation is contained and poses minimal risk of widespread transmission.

Nipah is a zoonotic disease, and minor cases of the virus are registered across Asia each year. While it has a very high fatality rate, it is not nearly as contagious as some recent pathogens, like COVID-19. 

GLOBAL CONCERNS: Rare Nipah Virus Continues To Kill People In India

According to a report by RT, the Nipah virus (NiV) is a rare zoonotic disease originating in fruit bats that has a high fatality rate of 40% to 75%, with no available vaccines or treatments. The incubation period ranges from 4 to 14 days, and patients may experience a wide range of symptoms, including fever, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting, and sore throat. Some cases are asymptomatic. In severe cases, patients may suffer drowsiness, altered consciousness, pneumonia, and, rarely, brain inflammation.

A larger outbreak of NiV occurred in 2018, and several people died.

OUTBREAK ALERT: Nipah Virus In India Has Killed 10, What You Should Know

Luckily, this virus poses a limited risk of transmission, as it requires direct contact with bodily fluids or contaminated food. A senior Thai health official has also noted that, unlike with COVID-19 and the flu, “infected people who have not yet developed symptoms cannot spread the virus during the incubation period, making the risk to passengers on the same flight very low.”

Up to five healthcare workers were reported to have contracted the disease earlier this month at the Narayana Multispeciality Hospital in the Barasat municipality in the city of Kolkata. Local officials have so far confirmed just two cases with one nurse said to be in critical condition. Investigations suggest the healthcare workers were infected while treating a patient who later died. -RT

Local health authorities claim that this outbreak has been contained; however, neighboring countries are still in a panic. Many have started to implement precautionary measures, while media reports have escalated concerns over the virus, with numerous news outlets framing the outbreak as a major threat.