Pakistan has ordered sweeping new health checks at airports, land borders and seaports as authorities across Asia rush to contain the regional threat posed by the Nipah virus.

The move, announced on January 28, 2026, effectively turns every point of entry into a health checkpoint for arriving travelers, signaling how seriously governments now view a virus long considered one of the region’s most dangerous emerging pathogens.

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Pakistan Orders 100 Percent Screening at All Entry Points

Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services has instructed border and airport authorities to conduct 100 percent screening of all arriving passengers, transit travelers, air and sea crew, and cross-border transport workers. Under the order, no one will be allowed to enter the country without formal health clearance from Border Health Services Pakistan, a specialized unit responsible for disease surveillance at points of entry.

The advisory makes clear that the new regime applies equally to international airports, seaports and ground crossings, including major land routes with India, Iran and Afghanistan. Every traveler will be asked about their recent travel history and checked for signs of illness. Officials say this step is designed to ensure that a single undetected case does not slip through and seed an outbreak inside Pakistan.

Pakistan’s heightened controls follow a regional alert from international public health bodies after suspected Nipah virus cases were reported in the Indian state of West Bengal. The country has not reported any Nipah cases on its own territory, but officials argue that the combination of porous borders, high mobility and dense urban centers leaves little margin for error.

Triggers for the New Measures: Nipah Cases in India and Regional Alerts

The immediate catalyst for Pakistan’s decision was renewed concern over Nipah virus activity in India. Health authorities there have confirmed a small number of cases in recent months, including infections among healthcare workers in West Bengal, and have carried out intensive contact tracing and isolation efforts. Indian officials say the outbreak is currently contained, yet the news has rippled quickly across the region.

International and regional surveillance systems, including those coordinated by the World Health Organization’s South East Asia office, have issued epidemiological bulletins flagging Nipah as a current threat. These alerts have prompted governments to reassess their border health protocols and to consider how quickly a virus transmitted by travelers could move between major Asian hubs.

For Pakistan, which shares a long land border with India and has busy air routes with Gulf states and Southeast Asia, the perceived risk is elevated. Health officials stress that Nipah does not spread as easily as respiratory viruses like influenza or COVID‑19, but its very high fatality rate and history of localized clusters are enough to justify aggressive precautionary measures.

What Travelers Can Expect at Pakistani Airports and Borders

Under the new directives, all travelers arriving in Pakistan can expect visible and structured health screening. Thermal scanners have been installed or reactivated at airport arrival halls, capturing body temperature as passengers disembark. Anyone registering a fever, appearing visibly unwell, or reporting concerning symptoms will be diverted for a more detailed clinical assessment by medical staff stationed at the terminal.

Border Health Services teams are also required to verify each traveler’s country of origin and their complete travel and transit history over the previous 21 days. This means additional questions at immigration counters and, in many cases, a longer processing time. Authorities say particular attention will be paid to travelers coming directly from, or transiting through, areas designated as Nipah affected or high risk.

Individuals who match the suspected case definition for Nipah infection will be immediately isolated at the point of entry. They will not be permitted to continue their journey and will instead be transferred to designated isolation facilities or tertiary hospitals. Conveyances such as aircraft, buses or cargo trucks that carried a suspected case will undergo disinfection according to tightened infection control protocols.

Officials acknowledge that these steps may inconvenience travelers, but insist the impact on tourism and trade is a necessary trade‑off. Airlines and ground transport operators have been briefed on the procedures, and passengers are being advised to arrive with extra time for health checks, especially at major international airports in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

Asia’s Wider Response: Airports and Land Crossings on High Alert

Pakistan’s announcement aligns it with a growing list of Asian destinations that have upgraded surveillance in response to Nipah concerns. In recent days, airport authorities in Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia have all reported stepped up screening for passengers arriving from parts of India associated with the virus.

Thailand has implemented checks at its busiest aviation gateways, including Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports and Phuket, where incoming passengers from Kolkata and other Indian cities are subject to temperature screening and health declaration forms. Officials there say thousands of travelers have already been screened without any confirmed Nipah cases, but they intend to keep the protocols in place as long as the regional alert continues.

Elsewhere in the region, health ministries have issued advisories warning against nonessential travel to outbreak zones and urging travelers to monitor themselves closely for symptoms in the days following their return. The rapid alignment of policies across borders reflects lessons learned during the COVID‑19 pandemic, when delays in screening and coordination allowed early cases to spread widely before controls could catch up.

For Asia’s tightly connected tourism market, these overlapping measures are reshaping the experience of international travel for the second time in a decade. Airlines, travel agents and tour operators are once again fielding questions about health paperwork, thermal cameras and the risk of last‑minute itinerary changes if a destination adjusts its entry rules.

Nipah Virus Explained: A High‑Fatality Threat With Limited Tools

Nipah virus is classified by global health authorities as a high‑threat zoonotic pathogen with significant epidemic potential. First identified in Malaysia in the late 1990s, it is naturally carried by fruit bats in the Pteropus genus and can spill over to humans through contaminated food, direct contact with infected animals such as pigs, or close contact with infected people.

Unlike many common respiratory infections, Nipah often presents with a combination of flu‑like symptoms and neurological complications. Early signs can include fever, headache, muscle pain and sore throat, which may progress to dizziness, altered consciousness and acute encephalitis, a dangerous inflammation of the brain. Respiratory distress is also frequently reported in severe cases.

The case fatality rate has varied between outbreaks, but has generally ranged from around 40 percent to more than 70 percent, making Nipah considerably deadlier than most seasonal viruses. There is currently no licensed vaccine or targeted antiviral treatment. Management is limited to supportive care, including respiratory support and intensive monitoring of neurological function, which places pressure on hospitals when clusters occur.

Past outbreaks have been concentrated in South and Southeast Asia, including Bangladesh and India, where seasonal patterns have been observed. Health agencies have long feared that a mutation or change in transmission dynamics could allow larger, faster‑moving outbreaks, which is why even small clusters now prompt vigorous regional responses.

Implications for Tourists, Business Travelers and the Travel Industry

For travelers, the most immediate consequence of Pakistan’s move is additional time spent at arrival checkpoints and a greater likelihood of health questions at both departure and arrival airports. International passengers heading to Pakistan, or transiting through the country, are being advised by travel operators to keep detailed records of their recent travel and to be prepared to declare stops and layovers.

Foreign tourists planning multi‑country itineraries across South and Southeast Asia may find that individual countries’ rules differ slightly. Some destinations focus their screening primarily on travelers from specific cities or regions of India, while others apply the same protocols to all international arrivals. Inconsistent messaging can create confusion, particularly for travelers moving quickly through multiple airports in a short period.

Business travelers could face more rigorous questioning if their recent trips have taken them to high‑risk areas or if their work involves close contact with animals or agricultural sites. Health questionnaires at some Asian airports already ask whether travelers have visited farms, livestock markets or rural areas where bat habitats are common, and more detailed questions may follow as authorities refine their risk assessments.

Within the travel industry, there is concern that renewed health anxieties could slow the recovery of regional tourism, especially along popular India‑to‑Southeast Asia routes and religious pilgrimage corridors that pass through Pakistan. Yet tourism boards and airlines are also quick to argue that visible, well‑organized health screening can reassure travelers that destinations are taking safety seriously, rather than driving them away.

How Pakistan Is Coordinating Its Health and Border Response

Behind the scenes, Pakistan’s decision to intensify checks has triggered a rapid mobilization of staff and resources at ports of entry. Border Health Services Pakistan is central to this effort, tasked with training screening personnel, ensuring that thermal scanners and protective equipment are available and functional, and setting up reporting channels for suspected cases.

Officials say that daily situation reports from airports, land crossings and seaports are being compiled into a national database and shared with the National Command and Operation Centre and the country’s International Health Regulations focal point. This reporting structure, refined during the COVID‑19 response, is now being repurposed for Nipah, with provincial and district health authorities on standby to investigate any flagged travelers.

Pandemic‑era infrastructure, such as isolation rooms at major airports and established protocols for disinfecting aircraft and vehicles, has reduced the time needed to stand up effective screening. Health workers at frontline points of entry have been reminded of strict infection prevention rules, including mandatory use of personal protective equipment, rigorous hand hygiene and environmental cleaning in screening zones.

The government has also emphasized that lapses in these procedures will be treated as serious negligence, a signal that authorities are determined to avoid the kind of fragmented implementation that can undermine even well‑designed health policies.

FAQ

Q1. Has Pakistan reported any Nipah virus cases so far?
As of late January 2026, Pakistani authorities have not reported any confirmed Nipah virus cases inside the country. The current measures are preventive, introduced in response to cases and alerts in neighboring India and the wider region.

Q2. Will travelers to Pakistan face quarantine on arrival?
Most travelers will not be quarantined if they pass thermal screening and do not show symptoms or high‑risk exposure history. Only those who meet the suspected case definition or present with concerning symptoms and travel histories may be isolated and referred to medical facilities.

Q3. How much extra time should I allow at Pakistani airports because of health checks?
Processing times will vary by airport and time of day, but travelers should expect additional minutes for health screening on top of normal immigration and customs queues. Airlines and tour operators are advising passengers to arrive earlier than usual at departure points and to be patient on arrival.

Q4. Are flights between India and Pakistan being canceled because of Nipah?
There have been no broad announcements of flight suspensions solely on account of Nipah, but routes and schedules can change quickly in response to evolving risk and demand. Travelers should monitor airline communications and be prepared for possible adjustments.

Q5. What symptoms will border officials be looking for during screening?
Screening staff have been instructed to watch for fever, headache, respiratory symptoms such as cough or difficulty breathing, and neurological signs including confusion, drowsiness or altered consciousness. Anyone displaying these signs may be taken for further evaluation.

Q6. Is Nipah virus as contagious as COVID‑19?
Nipah does not spread as easily as highly transmissible respiratory viruses like COVID‑19. Most Nipah outbreaks have involved limited chains of transmission linked to close contact with infected individuals or animals. However, the disease is far more lethal, which is why authorities treat even small clusters very seriously.

Q7. Are there any vaccines or specific treatments available for Nipah?
There is currently no licensed vaccine or dedicated antiviral treatment for Nipah virus. Care is largely supportive, focusing on managing symptoms and complications. Several vaccine candidates are in development and undergoing testing, but they are not yet available for general use.

Q8. Should tourists avoid traveling to South Asia because of Nipah?
Most health agencies have not issued blanket bans on travel to South Asia. Instead, they recommend that travelers stay informed about outbreak locations, avoid nonessential visits to affected zones, practice good hygiene, and cooperate fully with screening measures at airports and borders.

Q9. What practical steps can travelers take to reduce their Nipah risk?
Travelers are advised to avoid contact with bats and pigs, not to consume fruits that may have been partially eaten by animals, and to steer clear of raw products like unprocessed date palm sap in regions where Nipah has been reported. Frequent handwashing and avoiding close contact with visibly sick individuals are also important precautions.

Q10. Could border screening alone stop Nipah from spreading internationally?
Border screening is one important layer of defense, but it cannot guarantee that every case will be caught, especially if people are incubating the virus without symptoms. Its value lies in early detection of overt cases, buying time for health systems to respond while broader surveillance, clinical readiness and public awareness reduce the chances of wider spread.