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January 28, 2026 — West Bengal, India
India is facing renewed public health concern following the detection of new Nipah virus cases in the eastern state of West Bengal. The virus, known for its extremely high fatality rate of up to 75%, has prompted both national authorities and neighboring Asian countries to strengthen surveillance and emergency preparedness measures.
A Dangerous Virus Re-Emerges
Indian health officials confirmed five Nipah virus infections connected to a private hospital in Barasat, near Kolkata, with nearly 100 individuals placed under quarantine. Several infected patients are healthcare workers, highlighting the virus’s ability to spread in clinical settings.
The outbreak has raised significant alarm due to the virus’s historically high mortality rate—between 40% and 75% depending on outbreak conditions—and the absence of an approved vaccine or targeted treatment.
Regional Response Across Asia
The cluster of cases has triggered immediate action beyond India’s borders. Thailand, Nepal, Taiwan, and other Asian nations have implemented airport health screenings, echoing earlier pandemic-era protocols, to prevent cross-border transmission. Airports are conducting temperature checks, health declarations, and enhanced passenger monitoring. [uaecentre.com]
Officials emphasize that while international spread has not been reported, precautions are necessary due to the virus’s severe lethality and ease of transmission in close-contact environments.
How the Virus Spreads
Nipah is a zoonotic virus, most commonly transmitted from fruit bats but also associated with pigs and contaminated food sources. Human-to-human transmission can occur especially among caregivers and medical personnel, as reflected in the current outbreak.
Transmission routes include:
- Contaminated fruit or raw date palm sap
- Direct or close contact with infected individuals
- Exposure to bodily fluids of infected animals or humans
Symptoms and Disease Progression
The virus typically incubates for 4 to 14 days, with early symptoms resembling common respiratory infections. These may escalate rapidly to severe neurological complications, including seizures, confusion, and encephalitis—an inflammation of the brain that can become fatal within days.
Reported symptoms include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Sore throat
- Respiratory distress
- Drowsiness or confusion
- Seizures and potential coma
Containment Efforts in India
The Indian Ministry of Health has issued a nationwide alert, instructing all states to intensify surveillance, accelerate the detection of suspected cases, and reinforce hospital infection-control protocols. Aggressive contact tracing and isolation procedures are underway.
Although the outbreak is currently limited, experts stress that even a single Nipah case warrants swift action due to the virus’s epidemic potential and absence of medical countermeasures.
A Virus With Global Concern
The World Health Organization classifies Nipah as a top priority pathogen, alongside Ebola and Zika, due to its potential for severe outbreaks and limited treatment options.
Health specialists urge the public to remain alert but not panic, emphasizing that current containment measures appear effective and that no widespread community transmission has been detected.
- Zee News/picture: pixabay.com
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