Nipah Virus Outbreak: All About The Disease With No Cure As Asian Airports Tighten Screening

Last Updated:January 27, 2026, 13:45 IST

Nipah virus outbreak: The current outbreak in India was first reported among five health workers in West Bengal. While there is no cure, it can be prevented

The fruit-eating bat that was caught for the study of the spread of Nipah Virus in Kozhikode in 2018. (PTI File)

Nipah Virus Outbreak: Airports across several Asian countries have tightened health screening measures following reports of Nipah virus infections in India, prompting renewed regional vigilance.

Thailand, Nepal and Taiwan have reintroduced Covid-era style checks, including passenger monitoring and surveillance. The outbreak has also drawn attention in China ahead of the Lunar New Year travel season, when millions are expected to travel.

Is there a Nipah outbreak in India?

“The current outbreak in India was first reported among five health workers in West Bengal after a person died of an unknown disease, and later on, these five health professionals were involved. An ongoing investigation is now underway into another 100 to 200 people who have been exposed," AIIMS Bilaspur president Professor Dr Narendra Kumar Arora told ANI.

What is Nipah?

Nipah virus is a rare but highly dangerous zoonotic virus that spreads from animals to humans and can also transmit between people. It was first identified in 1998–99 in Malaysia and is named after the village of Sungai Nipah. Since then, outbreaks have mainly occurred in South and Southeast Asia, especially in Bangladesh and India, with Kerala reporting repeated cases. The natural hosts of the virus are fruit bats (Pteropus species), which carry the virus without falling ill and spread it through their saliva, urine, and droppings.

How is Nipah virus transmitted?

The virus spreads to humans through consumption of food contaminated by bats, such as partially eaten fruits or raw date palm sap, or through direct contact with infected animals like pigs. Human-to-human transmission occurs through close contact with an infected person’s body fluids or respiratory droplets, making family members and healthcare workers particularly vulnerable during outbreaks. Because of this, hospitals often become key points of spread if strict infection-control measures are not followed.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms usually appear 5-14 days after exposure.

Early symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting and sore throat

Severe symptoms are dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, seizures, encephalitis or brain swelling and coma

Some patients worsen very quickly within 24–48 hours.

How deadly is it?

Fatality rate: 40-75% (varies by outbreak)

Survivors may have long-term neurological problems. Some cases show relapse months or years later

Is there a cure?

No, there is currently no cure for Nipah virus. There is no specific antiviral medicine or approved vaccine that can eliminate the virus from the body. Treatment is limited to supportive care, which means doctors manage symptoms and complications through intensive care, ventilator support if breathing is affected, treatment for brain swelling, and close monitoring.

Can it be prevented?

Nipah can be prevented by taking simple measures:

Avoid eating fallen or partially eaten fruits

Do not drink raw date palm sap

Wash fruits thoroughly

Avoid contact with sick people during outbreaks

For healthcare workers, use PPE (gloves, masks, gowns) and strict infection-control measures

Kerala and West Bengal are endemic to Nipah

Dr Arora on Monday highlighted the serious public health risks posed by the Nipah virus, describing it as a highly infectious and fatal zoonotic disease. “Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease. These sporadic outbreaks have occurred in both Kerala and West Bengal. Even Bangladesh is endemic for the Nipah virus…," he told ANI

“There is currently no vaccine available for this virus, and Monoclonal antibodies are to be given as soon as someone is diagnosed with Nipah virus infection. There is a very limited supply of these monoclonal antibodies globally," he said.

Urging caution in endemic regions, Dr Arora added, “But one has to be careful that in areas where these fruit bats are present, human and animal contact is kept to a minimum or avoided to prevent the disease. Both Kerala and West Bengal are endemic for this virus."

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