WHO Assures Nipah Virus Risk Is Low in India, No Sign of Spread

There is a low risk of Nipah virus spreading from India, the World Health Organisation said, adding that it does not recommend travel or trade curbs. India reported two infections of the deadly condition,

which has no cure. Many Asian countries, including Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, tightened airport screening checks this week to guard against such a spread. "The WHO considers the risk of further spread of infection from these two cases is low," the agency was quoted by Reuters in an email on Friday, adding that India had the capacity to contain such outbreaks.

West Bengal reported two cases

The cases were reported from the North 24 Parganas district, an area that has seen Nipah outbreaks in the past. Both patients are nurses - a woman and a man, working at the same private hospital in Barasat. They developed initial symptoms last month, which rapidly progressed to neurological complications. The two were then placed in isolation in early January. In an update shared on its website, following confirmation of the cases, WHO said an extensive public health response was activated. Authorities identified, traced, monitored, and tested 196 contacts linked to the two patients. All contacts were asymptomatic and tested negative for Nipah virus infection. As of today, no additional cases have been detected. “The likelihood of spread to other Indian states or internationally is considered low.” Assessing the risk, the WHO said any chance of the virus spreading in West Bengal was moderate due to the presence of fruit bat reservoirs in border areas and the possibility of sporadic spillover.

What is the Nipah virus?

Nipah, also known as NiV, is a zoonotic disease, which means it spreads from animals to humans. First identified in Malaysia in 1998, it has since caused repeated outbreaks in South and Southeast Asia, especially in Bangladesh and India, over the years. Fruit bats – the flying foxes- are the natural hosts of this dangerous virus. Humans become infected through contact with contaminated fruit, raw date palm sap, infected animals, or through close contact with an infected person. What makes Nipah deadly and mostly fatal is its high death rate, which ranges from 40 to 75 per cent depending on the outbreak. Doctors say the virus causes severe respiratory illness and deadly brain inflammation, also known as encephalitis, which often progresses rapidly.

Fruit bats - also known as flying foxes- are the natural hosts of the Nipah virus. The WHO has listed Nipah as a priority pathogen due to its high mortality, lack of treatment, and ability to cause outbreaks. Unlike many viruses, Nipah infections initially resemble a common flu-like illness, making early detection extremely difficult and vague. Another reason for concern is human-to-human transmission. While Nipah does not spread as easily as COVID-19 or influenza, documented hospital clusters prove it can spread through bodily fluids, contaminated surfaces, and prolonged close contact.Also read: Why has the Nipah Virus Triggered Global Concern?

How can the spread of the Nipah virus be contained?

India’s swift containment measures, which include contact tracing, isolation, surveillance, and public advisories, have so far prevented large-scale spread. However, containment does not eliminate future risk. Nipah outbreaks tend to recur, often years apart, making constant vigilance essential. According to experts, severe cases of the Nipah virus can be managed “through intensive supportive care”. Apart from the ongoing airport screenings, countries should also focus on promoting measures to prevent the virus, like good hygiene, proper ventilation, avoiding crowds, staying home when ill, seeking timely medical advice, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle to support immunity. The WHO has also provided guidelines for controlling the spread of the virus, which include requirements like decreasing bat access to date palm sap and other fresh food products.