Experts have warned that millions of people travelling to and from Asia for Chinese New Year could potentially trigger a spike in Nipah virus cases.
India has so far confirmed two cases of Nipah virus, a rare disease that can be caught from contact with an infected person or by consuming food or drink contaminated with the faeces, urine or saliva of infected fruit bats.
Lunar New Year sparks the world’s largest annual travel migration with millions of people travelling to and from Asia.
The 40-day Lunar New Year travel season, known as chunyun, begins on February 2 this year and runs until March 13, involving billions of passenger journeys across the China.
The China State Railway Group is anticipating a record 539 million rail passenger journeys between this period, a five per cent year-on-year increase.
Several countries have implemented screening measures in people arriving at airports, while others are tightening the ones they already have in place after the potentially deadly bat-borne virus was detected in humans.
On Thursday, Pakistan became the latest country to order enhanced screening of people entering the country to look for signs of Nipah virus.
Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam have all also implemented enhanced screening procedures at airports, and the UK has warned travellers about taking precautions when travelling to West Bengal, the region of the outbreak.
The infection is caused by the Nipah virus, a rare but highly dangerous pathogen that can trigger severe breathing problems, seizures and fatal swelling of the brain. Pictured: the aftermath of a 2023 outbreak in India
The 40-day Lunar New Year travel season, known as chunyun, begins on February 2 this year and runs until March 13. Pictured: Huge crowds travelling in Shanghai, China, during the Spring Festival travel rush last year
Though public health experts note the risk of widespread transmission remains low, Chinese social media is reporting growing concern about the deadly infection in the country.
Travel during the Lunar New Year in 2020 potentiated the spread of COVID-19.
Dr Katherine O’Reilly, regional medical director of the security and health services company, International SOS told the Daily Mail: ‘The Spring Festival (Lunar New Year) period is expected to drive significant travel activity both within China and across Asia.
‘Increased travel naturally raises exposure to potentially infected individuals, particularly with respiratory illnesses, as crowded transport hubs and close contact can facilitate the spread of viruses.
‘China and several Asian countries have strengthened airport health screening measures after India confirmed two Nipah virus cases in West Bengal, introducing preventive steps such as thermal checks, health declarations, passenger monitoring, awareness campaigns and enhanced border surveillance.
‘So far, all identified contacts linked to the two Nipah cases in India have tested negative and no cases have been reported outside the city of Barasat in West Bengal.
‘Current assessments indicate that Nipah is unlikely to spread to other countries; the outbreak remains limited to one area, and health authorities across Asia have strong screening protocols in place to prevent imported infections.
‘However, during periods of heavy travel, it is important to take general precautions to protect yourself against respiratory viruses such as colds, influenza, COVID‑19, and RSV.
‘These include washing your hands regularly, maintaining good hygiene, and keeping distance from people who are visibly unwell.’
Cvete Koneska, global security director at International SOS, said: ‘As the Lunar New Year ushers in the world’s largest annual human migration, the travel risk environment becomes uniquely challenging for organisations.’
She warns of ‘exceptionally high travel volumes, extensive cross-regional movement and crowded transport hubs’.
It comes as UK health chiefs have warned that Nipah virus could kill up to 75 per cent of people infected.
The virus is a rare but serious infectious disease carried by bats that can infect both pigs and humans, in some cases causing irreversible brain damage.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued new guidance amid pandemic fears, stating: ‘While the risk to most people remains very low, understanding the virus is important if you are planning to travel to areas where it circulates.’
Officials are watching the virus closely, as while there have not yet been any cases identified in the UK, there is no vaccine or treatment for the infection.
It is currently estimated that between 40 and 75 per cent of people infected with the virus will die, with others being left with lasting neurological difficulties, including persistent seizures and personality changes.
In rare cases, the virus can lie dormant and reactivate months or years after the initial infection, health officials added.
Because of this, Nipah virus was labelled a ‘high priority pathogen’ in March last year, which ‘urgently needs investment in developing tests, treatments and vaccines’.
Most infections result from consuming fruits or fruit juices – specifically fermented date palm juice – contaminated with the faeces, urine or saliva of infected fruit bats.
The infection can then be spread from person to person through close contact and bodily fluids, which triggered the current outbreak in West Bengal.
For those travelling to endemic areas, including Bangladesh and India, prevention primarily focuses on avoiding contact with bats and taking extra precautions when preparing food.
Some parts of Asia have tightened screening measures at airports to control the spread
All fruit should be washed thoroughly with clean water and peeled before eating. Fruit found on the ground should be avoided due to contamination risk.
Prof Paul Hunter, a professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia and virus expert, said that the chances of it spreading are low, but we shouldn’t be complacent.
He said: ‘The infection usually spreads from animals to humans either through direct contact or consumption of contaminated food.
‘The primary source of infection is bats and people have been infected from consumption of fruit or fruit products – such as raw date palm juice – contaminated with urine or saliva from infected fruit bats.
‘However, the first outbreak was associated with contact with infected pigs. Those pigs probably got infected by bats.
‘Person-to-person spread does occur, but less commonly. Though the spread from infected patients to their health professionals is a particular concern.
‘Although Nipah is a very serious infection, it is unlikely to pose a significant risk of global spread as the risk of person-to-person transmission is low.
‘Nevertheless, we cannot be complacent as we have seen recently, some virus can mutate to increased infectivity. Also, the long incubation period makes detection at borders very difficult.’
Health chiefs advise all travellers against consuming raw or partially fermented date palm sap, which poses one of the biggest risks and to avoid close contact with anyone infected
Nipah usually begins with the sudden onset of flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, muscle aches, vomiting and a sore throat.
In some people, this can trigger encephalitis – inflammation of the brain – or meningitis, which typically develops three to 21 days after the initial illness begins and can be fatal without intensive supportive care.
The latest outbreak in India’s West Bengal region has prompted some countries to roll out Covid-era airport screenings to stop it from spreading.
The outbreak is linked to a private hospital in West Bengal, where at least five healthcare workers were infected earlier this month.
Around 110 people who came into contact with infected patients have now been quarantined as a precaution, officials said.
So far no cases have been reported outside of India, with a spokesperson from the World Health Organisation (WHO) telling the Daily Mail that they do not expect the disease to spread beyond India’s borders.
They said: ‘As per the available information, WHO considers risk of further spread of infection from these two cases is low.
‘India has the capacity to contain such outbreaks, as demonstrated during the past outbreaks.
‘Recommended public health responses are jointly being rolled out by the national and state health teams. There is no evidence yet of increased human-human transmission.
‘However, the source of infection is not yet fully understood. It is possible that further exposure to Nipah virus could occur, given known reservoir of Nipah virus in bat population in some parts of India and Bangladesh, including West Bengal.
‘Community’s awareness of risk factors such as consumption of date palm sap needs to be strengthened.’
