Countries across Asia are on high alert after cases of the deadly Nipah virus were detected in India. Though Indian officials said they have contained the outbreak, screenings at airports in Asia increased at major airports, with health declarations, temperature checks and visual monitoring of passengers.

A recent outbreak of Nipah virus in India has led some to worry the disease could spread, calling the prospect “scary”.

Though there have been only a few outbreaks, Nipah is considered a public health threat because of its high case fatality rate, potential for human-to-human transmission, capacity to cause outbreaks a...