Countries on Alert as WHO Confirms Nipah Virus Outbreak in India
Countries across Asia and beyond have heightened disease surveillance after the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed a fresh outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus in India, raising concerns over cross-border transmission and public health preparedness.
In a statement issued this week, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described Nipah as a “rare but serious disease”, confirming that two cases had been detected in India’s West Bengal State. The outbreak has prompted regional health authorities to activate emergency response mechanisms, particularly at ports of entry.
Nipah virus is a zoonotic pathogen, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans. According to the WHO, the virus is primarily spread by fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, which are widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia, parts of the Indian Ocean islands, and Oceania.
The virus was first identified during an outbreak in Malaysia in 1998 and has since been reported sporadically in Bangladesh, India, Singapore, and the Philippines. Health experts say outbreaks are often linked to close contact with infected animals or consumption of food contaminated with bat saliva, urine, or droppings.
“The virus can be transmitted to humans from wild and domestic animals; however, as the disease can also spread between people, secondary human-to-human transmission is possible,” the WHO said in its advisory.
The two confirmed cases in the current outbreak involve a male and a female nurse from Barasat, West Bengal. According to Indian health authorities, both developed symptoms in late December 2025 and were admitted to hospital in early January 2026. Contact tracing has since been intensified.
Ghebreyesus said that while no linked cases have been detected outside India, the situation remains under close observation.
“WHO and Indian health authorities are currently monitoring more than 190 contacts who were exposed to the infected individuals,” he said, adding that containment measures were underway.
Nipah virus infection initially presents with flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and sore throat. Symptoms typically appear within 14 days of exposure but can progress rapidly to severe respiratory illness or fatal encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain.
The virus is particularly dangerous due to its high case fatality rate, which the WHO estimates at between 40 and 75 per cent, depending on the outbreak and quality of care.
There is currently no licensed vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Nipah virus. As a result, prevention efforts focus on public awareness, early detection, and infection control measures.
“Preventing infection relies mainly on raising awareness of risk factors and reducing exposure to bats and infected animals,” the WHO noted.
Following confirmation of the outbreak, several countries including Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam have reinforced airport screening and health checks, according to reports by Reuters. Health ministries in the region have urged travellers to remain vigilant and report symptoms promptly.
“Authorities have increased disease surveillance and testing, implemented prevention and control measures in health care settings, and are keeping the public informed about how to protect themselves,” Ghebreyesus said.
Public health experts warn that while Nipah outbreaks are rare, global travel and urbanisation increase the risk of rapid spread if cases go undetected. They have urged governments to strengthen surveillance systems and invest in research for vaccines and therapeutics.
As monitoring continues, WHO maintains that transparent communication and regional cooperation will be critical in preventing a wider outbreak.
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Countries on Alert as WHO Confirms Nipah Virus Outbreak in India
