What we know about the Nipah virus so far

The Nipah virus has resurfaced in India, prompting heightened vigilance across Asia.

Health authorities across parts of Asia are on alert following reports of new Nipah virus infections in India’s eastern state of West Bengal. BBC News reported that at least five healthcare workers linked to a private hospital in Barasat have been infected, with one patient in critical condition.

Around 110 close contacts have since been quarantined, while earlier containment efforts in West Bengal saw about 180 people tested and 20 high-risk contacts placed in isolation as reported by Mothership.

What is the Nipah virus?

Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. It is primarily carried by fruit bats of the Pteropus species, but humans can become infected through:

• Direct contact with infected animals
• Consumption of contaminated food
• Or close contact with an infected person

According to BBC News, Nipah is classified by the WHO as one of its top priority pathogens due to its potential to cause outbreaks with severe health consequences. There is no approved vaccine or specific treatment, which is why even small clusters are taken seriously.

Signs, symptoms, and complications

Nipah virus infections can present very differently from person to person. Some individuals may develop mild or no symptoms, while others progress rapidly to severe illness.

Early symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Sore throat
• Vomitting

In more serious cases, symptoms can escalate to:

• Drowsiness or confusion
• Difficulty breathing
• Pneumonia
• Meningitis
• Seizures

One of the most dangerous complications is encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, which can be fatal. BBC News notes that past outbreaks have shown fatality rates ranging from 40 per cent to 75 per cent, depending on healthcare access and outbreak conditions.

Death may result from acute respiratory failure, brain inflammation, or multi-organ complications, particularly when diagnosis and isolation are delayed.

Who is most at risk?

Those at higher risk of infection include:

• Healthcare workers caring for infected patients
• Individuals with close, prolonged contact with infected persons
• People exposed to fruit bats, sick animals, or contaminated food
• Communities in areas where outbreaks are occurring

According to NCID, there is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Nipah virus infections. Clinical care is largely supportive, focusing on managing complications such as respiratory distress and neurological symptoms. Experimental treatments, including antiviral drugs and monoclonal antibodies, are still under study and are not widely available.

Is this the first Nipah outbreak?

No. And the good news is that they have been successfully contained.

According to BBC News, the 1998 –1999 Nipah outbreak in Malaysia was brought under control after more than a million pigs were culled, a measure that ultimately helped stop transmission but caused major economic losses. In Singapore, there were 11 cases and one death, and there has been no cases reported since then.

More recent outbreaks in Kerala, India, and Bangladesh were brought under control through a combination of early case detection, quarantine of close contacts, and strengthened infection-control measures in healthcare settings, according to reporting by BBC News and regional health authorities.

Can it be controlled?

Across the region, authorities have taken precautionary steps to strengthen surveillance. Thailand has begun screening travellers arriving from West Bengal at several international airports, a move Mothership reported was precautionary, while Nepal has stepped up checks at its airport and land borders. According to Focus Taiwan, Taiwan has proposed classifying Nipah virus as a Category 5 disease – a designation for emerging or rare infections that triggers mandatory reporting, enhanced surveillance, and special control measures – despite having no confirmed cases so far.

Meanwhile, governments in the region are emphasising vigilance rather than panic. The Straits Times reported that Malaysia’s Health Ministry is actively assessing the situation, verifying information through official channels – including the World Health Organization – and maintaining existing border health controls. Officials stressed that any escalation would be guided by risk assessments and confirmed epidemiological data.

There has been no local spread of the Nipah virus as of late January 2026. Singapore’s health authorities continue to monitor the situation, and members of the public are advised to rely on official updates should guidance change.