Commentary
A large outbreak of hysteria occurred in the media over the past week, regarding a small Nipah virus outbreak in eastern India. “Hysteria” is the correct word in terms of proportionality. It is not, unfortunately, the right word in terms of intent. Ten years ago this episode of Nipah virus disease would barely have rated a mention internationally, and certainly not stimulated airport screening and travel warnings—there have been many larger outbreaks of Nipah virus than this one, which did not.
