 Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA) |
The Ministry will continue to closely monitor developments, and coordinate with the World Health Organization (WHO) and countries around the world in taking appropriate disease prevention and control measures.
The Nipah virus was first identified in 1999 in Malaysia. Human infections were first reported in Bangladesh in 2001, and later detected in India.
According to the WHO, Nipah virus infections have been recorded sporadically on a small scale in several countries and have not developed into a large outbreak. The case fatality rate is estimated to be 40 to 75%. The incubation period ranges from 4 to 14 days.
Symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and sore throat, followed by dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness and neurological signs indicative of acute encephalitis. There is currently no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Nipah virus infection in humans or animals.
Data from infectious disease surveillance systems show that between December 27, 2025, and January 26, 2026, India reported five suspected Nipah virus cases, including two laboratory-confirmed cases, at a hospital in West Bengal.
Nipah virus infection is classified as a Group A infectious disease. The virus is transmitted primarily from animals to humans, currently through fruit bats in India, or through contact with contaminated objects or food. It can also spread from person to person via direct contact with bodily fluids or secretions of an infected patient.