The World Health Organization has assessed the likelihood of the Nipah virus spreading beyond India as minimal, following the confirmation of two cases in the country. In a statement issued on Friday, the global health body said there was no need for restrictions on international travel or trade at this time.
Despite the low-risk assessment, several Asian territories—including Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam—have heightened health surveillance at airports as a precaution after India reported the infections.
In correspondence with Reuters, the WHO stated that the chances of onward transmission from the two confirmed cases remain limited, noting that Indian health authorities possess the necessary capacity to manage and contain such incidents effectively. However, the agency cautioned that additional exposures cannot be completely ruled out, as the virus is naturally present among bat populations in parts of India and neighbouring Bangladesh.
Nipah virus is transmitted primarily by fruit bats and animals such as pigs and can lead to severe symptoms, including high fever and inflammation of the brain. The disease has a mortality rate estimated between 40% and 75%. There is currently no approved treatment, although vaccine research is ongoing.
Human infection usually occurs through contact with contaminated fruit or infected animals, while direct human-to-human transmission is relatively uncommon and typically requires prolonged close contact.
The WHO noted that investigations are still underway to determine the exact source of the recent infections. Nipah is listed as a priority pathogen due to the absence of licensed vaccines or therapies, its high fatality rate, and concerns that it could evolve into a more easily transmissible strain.
The two infected individuals, both healthcare workers, were identified in late December in India’s eastern state of West Bengal and are currently receiving medical care, according to local officials.
India has experienced intermittent Nipah cases in the past, particularly in Kerala, a southern state considered one of the most vulnerable areas globally for the virus. Since its emergence there in 2018, outbreaks have been linked to multiple fatalities.
This latest incident marks the seventh recorded Nipah outbreak in India and the third in West Bengal. Previous cases in the state occurred in 2001 and 2007, primarily in areas close to the Bangladesh border. Bangladesh itself reports Nipah outbreaks almost every year, according to the WHO.