Asian airports start screening for new virus

Here we go again.

Airports across Asia are starting to screen passengers for yet another potentially fatal virus.

After Covid and Monkeypox meet Nipah virus.

Nipah virus is a bat-borne, zoonotic virus that causes Nipah virus infection in humans and other animals, a disease with a very high mortality rate.

Numerous disease outbreaks caused by Nipah virus have occurred in south-east Africa and south-east Asia.

Nipah virus belongs to the genus Henipavirus along with the Hendra virus, which has also caused disease outbreaks

Authorities in Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia have stepped up airport screening in an effort to prevent the infection from spreading, news hub Travel Mole reports.

The virus, which is carried by fruit bats and ​animals such as pigs, can cause fever and brain inflammation and has a fatality rate of between 40% and 75%.

In Thailand, the Ministry of Public Health acknowledged heightened concern over Nipah virus and said passenger checks will take place at Thailand airports.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr Sophon Iamsirithaworn said Nipah is classified as a dangerous communicable disease.

Outbreaks have so far centred on Bangladesh and West Bengal in India.

“Although these areas are geographically distant from Thailand, close monitoring is necessary due to direct flights arriving at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and Phuket airports,” he said.

No confirmed infections have been detected yet.

Image: Edward Ortiz, Scop.io  

Is that a reptile down your pants?

Security officers made a shock discovery at Newark Liberty International Airport passenger screening - a live turtle stuffed down a man's pants.

A US Transportation Security Administration officer operating a pre-flight body scanner detected a concealed item in the Pennsylvania man’s pants, US media reported.

When confronted, the traveller ‘pulled out a live turtle.’ The captive was a 12cm-long red-ear slider turtle wrapped in a towel.

Police took possession of the reptile and later handed it over to US Fish and Wildlife Service officers.

The man accused of attempting to smuggle the turtle missed his flight and was escorted out of the security checkpoint by police. Police did not say where the man was planning to travel but he was turned around.

It is unclear if he will face wildlife smuggling charges.

“We have seen travellers try to conceal knives and other weapons on their person, however I believe this is the first time we have come across someone who was concealing a live animal down the front of his pants,” said Thomas Carter, the TSA’s federal security director for New Jersey.

“As best as we could tell, the turtle was not harmed by the man’s actions.”