WHO Sees Low Risk of Wider Spread From Indian Nipah Outbreak
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The World Health Organization said the risk of further diffusion from a recent cluster of Nipah virus cases in India remains low, easing concerns about a potential broader outbreak of the deadly pathogen.
The U.N. health agency provided the assessment to Caixin after officials in India’s West Bengal state reported two confirmed cases of the virus. The infected individuals, both nurses working at the same hospital, reported initial symptoms in the final week of December 2025. Their conditions progressed rapidly, and they were admitted to isolation units in early January.
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- WHO states the risk of Nipah virus spreading beyond the current cluster in India remains low, despite two confirmed cases among nurses in West Bengal.
- Nipah, a zoonotic virus carried by fruit bats, continues to cause periodic outbreaks in South Asia; Bangladesh reports cases almost yearly since 2001, India periodically, but not Malaysia or Singapore since 1999.
- There are no licensed treatments or vaccines for Nipah; WHO urges surveillance and infection control, especially in healthcare settings.
- 1999：
- Nipah virus was first identified during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia.
- After 2018：
- Following a Nipah outbreak in Kerala, India, the WHO designated Nipah as a priority disease requiring urgent action on its research and development blueprint.
- Since 2001：
- Bangladesh has reported Nipah virus cases nearly every year.
- The final week of December 2025：
- Two nurses in West Bengal, India, reported initial symptoms of Nipah virus infection.
- Early January 2026：
- The two nurses were admitted to isolation units as their conditions progressed rapidly.
- Since January 2026：
- WHO has maintained contact with Indian central and state health authorities following the report of recent cases.
- By January 27, 2026：
- China's National Disease Control and Prevention Administration stated that no Nipah virus cases have been detected in China.
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