US EditionWHO Sees Low Risk of Nipah Virus Spreading Beyond India
Two Nipah virus cases confirmed in West Bengal, India, with 200 contacts quarantined; Asia reinstates airport screening amid concerns over up to 75% fatality rate, WHO says.
- On January 30, 2026, Indian authorities confirmed two Nipah virus cases detected in West Bengal linked to Narayana Multispeciality Hospital since December.
- Given its high fatality rate, Nipah virus spreads from fruit bats and pigs and via contaminated food or less commonly between people, with no available vaccine, the World Health Organization says.
- Nearly 200 close contacts were quarantined and tested negative, with an incubation period of four to 14 days or up to 45 days reported, while Kerala outbreak, 2018 caused 17 deaths.
- Asian governments reinstated airport screening across Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, China, Malaysia and Indonesia, while no cases have been confirmed outside India during the latest outbreak.
- Australian Health Minister Mark Butler said Australia is monitoring the Nipah outbreak closely, maintaining existing traveller screening and referral protocols with diagnostic capacity in reference-level public health laboratories and the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Although human transmission is low, WHO considers it high-risk because there is no vaccine. It has a high mortality rate, between 40% and 75%, much more lethal than COVID-19The alert in India for the Nipah virus: only two cases and with a “low” risk of contagion Airports across Asia are on high alert after India confirmed two cases of the deadly Nipah virus in West Bengal state over the past month.
Australian Minister Says Officials Closely Monitoring Indian Nipah Virus Outbreak
Australian Health Minister Mark Butler has confirmed his department is closely monitoring the deadly Nipah virus following a recent outbreak in India. The Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus carried naturally by fruit bats and can be transmitted to humans, with a mortality rate up to 75 percent. Early symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, cough, shortness of breath and sore throat, according to the Australian Centre for Diseas…
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