India confirms cases in Kolkata, prompting Thai airports to bolster screening

20260128N Virus check at airport

Thai authorities are bolstering quarantine measures at airports for travelers arriving from West Bengal, as they did during a past Nipah outbreak, seen here. (Suvarnabhumi Airport Office/handout via Reuters)

TAKANORI OKABE and YUJI NITTA

January 28, 2026 17:46 JST

Updated on January 29, 2026 00:39 JST

MUMBAI/HANOI — An outbreak of the highly fatal Nipah virus appears to be emerging in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, and Southeast Asian countries are bolstering quarantine measures in response.