Explained | Why Nipah virus outbreak in India is setting off global alarm bells | India News

As millions across Asia prepare to travel for the Lunar New Year, a little-known but deadly virus has hit the headlines again. Two Nipah virus infections confirmed in India’s eastern state of West Bengal were enough to trigger airport alerts from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur, not because of the size of the outbreak but because of what the virus can do when it slips through the cracks.

So how worried should the world be? Here’s a clear look at what’s happening and why governments are paying attention to this issue.

What’s happening in India?

India’s health ministry said this week that two people tested positive for Nipah virus in West Bengal in late December 2025. Both patients are healthcare professionals treated in the same hospital.

Authorities have tracked down 196 people linked to the cases. “All traced contacts were asymptomatic and tested negative,” the ministry said, adding that the situation was “continuously monitored” and “all necessary public health measures were taken.”

Although authorities have not determined the original source of the infection, the fact that both patients worked at the same hospital indicates possible contact with an infected but undiagnosed patient, a pattern seen in previous outbreaks.

What is Nipah virus?

Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic disease, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans. Fruit bats and flying foxes are its natural hosts, but humans can become infected from contaminated food, close contact with infected animals, or through person-to-person transmission.

The virus incubates for approximately five to 14 days. Symptoms usually begin with fever and headache, but severe cases can escalate rapidly, leading to breathing problems and acute encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain.

In severe cases, patients may experience convulsions, confusion, and coma within 24 to 48 hours. The mortality rate is high, but the virus does not spread easily between people, limiting its pandemic potential.

Has Nipah caused epidemics before?

Yes, and this history explains the concern. The first known outbreak occurred among pig farmers in Malaysia in 1998 and later spread to Singapore. More than 250 people have been infected and more than 100 have died.

In 2014, cases in the Philippines were linked to the slaughter of horses and eating infected meat.

There have been repeated flare-ups since 2001 in South Asia, particularly in Bangladesh and India. The World Health Organization (WHO) says outbreaks in Bangladesh are often linked to drinking contaminated raw palm sap by bats, close contact with infected people and caring for sick patients.

India recorded its first confirmed cases in West Bengal in 2007, although an earlier outbreak was later detected in Siliguri in 2001. This incident was largely hospital-related; According to the World Health Organization, 75 percent of cases involved hospital staff or visitors.

Multiple outbreaks in Kerala since 2018 have caused dozens of deaths, making it one of the highest-risk areas in the world for Nipah.

Is this epidemic different?

What stands out is the long gap. West Bengal has not reported a Nipah outbreak for decades, and there is still no clear explanation for how the virus reemerged. Some experts believe that eating fruit contaminated with bat saliva or urine can trigger infections. The Indian Council of Medical Research said the virus spreads mostly through close contact, but it can also be transmitted through the air in certain environments, a concern in crowded hospitals.

Is there a vaccine or treatment?

According to the World Health Organization, there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for Nipah virus. Oxford University is conducting vaccine trials in Bangladesh and started phase two trials in December 2025.

In the meantime, doctors are relying on supportive care and experimental use of antiviral drugs. Ribavirin was given to a small number of patients during the 1999 epidemic in Malaysia, but its effectiveness remains unclear.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Remdesivir shows promise in preventing Nipah infection in exposed nonhuman primates. Kerala used the drug during the outbreak in 2023, which coincided with a lower death rate.

Why are other countries tightening airport controls?

Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal and Malaysia have increased screening at international airports.

Thailand’s health ministry said planes from Nipah-affected countries were parked in designated parking spaces and passengers were required to fill out health declaration forms. Thermal scanners have been installed at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport to detect fever and other symptoms. Similar measures are being implemented in Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Kathmandu.

Timing is important. Heavy holiday travel increases the risk of infected travelers carrying the virus across borders before symptoms appear.

How worried should people be?

Social media anxiety has flared up, especially in China. “This is very scary, especially with the Spring Festival approaching. I don’t want to go through another quarantine,” one user wrote. Another asked: “Can’t we temporarily close the travel channel with India?” he asked.

China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported that the country had not recorded any cases of Nipah so far but warned of the risk of imported infections.

Health experts emphasize that Nipah is not like COVID-19. It does not spread easily and outbreaks are usually controlled through monitoring, isolation and hospital checks. Severe cases can be managed “through intensive supportive care.”

How can the virus be prevented?

Beyond airport controls, public health advice remains simple: good hygiene, proper ventilation, avoiding crowds, staying home when sick, and seeking medical attention early.

WHO has also issued specific guidance aimed at stopping the spread from bats. A 2018 report said it was vital to “reduce bats’ access to date palm sap and other fresh food products.”

“Keeping bats away from sap collection areas with protective covers [such as bamboo sap skirts] It may be useful. Freshly collected date juice should be boiled, and the fruits should be thoroughly washed and peeled before consumption. Fruit with signs of bat bites should be thrown away, the agency said.

People handling sick animals should wear gloves and protective clothing. In hospitals, WHO recommends taking standard precautions, as well as protection against contact and droplets and, in some cases, airborne transmission.

“Unprotected close physical contact with people infected with Nipah virus should be avoided. Regular hand washing should be done after caring for or visiting sick people,” the statement said.

The West Bengal outbreak is small and under control, but Nipah’s deadly reputation, combined with the busy travel season, explains why governments are taking no chances.