In a swift move to safeguard public health, Myanmar has ramped up screening measures at Yangon International Airport amid fears of Nipah virus infiltration. The escalation comes in response to the ongoing outbreak in India’s West Bengal, prompting authorities to focus intensely on inbound travelers from the region.
Government sources confirm that health officials are now conducting rigorous checks for fever and other telltale symptoms associated with the deadly virus. This heightened vigilance aligns with international protocols for managing high-risk infectious diseases that could spark public health emergencies.
Passengers arriving from abroad are handed informational leaflets and greeted by prominent posters at the airport, raising awareness about Nipah risks. Coordinated efforts with airport staff ensure robust prevention and control strategies are in place, extending similar protocols to Mandalay International Airport.
No suspected Nipah cases have surfaced in Myanmar yet, but officials remain on high alert. Nipah, a zoonotic pathogen first identified in Malaysia in 1998 during a pig farming outbreak, has since appeared in Bangladesh and India repeatedly, including recent incidents.
The virus’s ability to spread human-to-human through close contact, especially in crowded hospitals with poor ventilation, underscores its threat. Classified as a priority pathogen by the WHO due to its pandemic potential and high fatality rate, Nipah currently lacks approved vaccines or targeted treatments.
As global travel resumes, such proactive airport measures highlight the critical role of border surveillance in containing emerging threats. Myanmar’s actions serve as a model for regional preparedness against this elusive killer.