India has confirmed two cases of the deadly Nipah virus, triggering heightened airport screening and surveillance measures in several Asian countries.
The cases were detected in late December in West Bengal,
eastern India, with health authorities saying both patients are healthcare
workers currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.
Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease primarily transmitted to
humans from fruit bats or through food contaminated by infected animals.
It can also spread between people through close and
prolonged contact. The virus causes symptoms such as fever and brain
inflammation and has a fatality rate estimated at between 40 and 75 percent.
India’s health ministry said 196 people who had contact with
the infected individuals have been identified, tested and placed under
observation, with none showing symptoms or testing positive.
The ministry said it has intensified surveillance,
laboratory testing and field investigations to help contain the cases promptly.
The reported cases have put neighbouring countries in Asia,
including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong on alert.
Nipah virus was first identified more than 25 years ago
during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia and Singapore.
Scientists believe the virus has circulated in fruit bats
for thousands of years.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) lists Nipah as a
priority pathogen due to its high death rate and the absence of approved
vaccines or treatments.
India records sporadic Nipah infections, particularly in
Kerala, where several outbreaks since 2018 have resulted in dozens of deaths.
Bangladesh also reports cases regularly.
As of December 2025, global health data shows about 750
confirmed Nipah infections worldwide, with more than 400 deaths.
Several vaccines are currently under development but remain
in clinical trials.
The West Bengal cases are the state’s first reported Nipah
infections in nearly 20 years.
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