India says it has contained Nipah virus outbreak

Indian authorities said they have contained a Nipah virus outbreak after confirming two cases in the eastern state of West Bengal.

China and other Asian countries are tightening health screenings and airport surveillance for travellers arriving from India.

India's Health Ministry said that two Nipah cases had been detected since December and that all identified contacts had been quarantined and tested.

It said 196 contacts had been traced and all tested negative. The Nipah virus, which causes fevers, convulsions and vomiting, spreads through fruit bats, pigs and human-to-human contact.

A vaccine has yet to be developed. Chinese authorities are closely monitoring the situation, saying no domestic cases have been detected.

Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam have also tightened screening.