Nipah Virus Infection Has Started to Spread - Has It Reached Your Country? Symptoms of Disease 'More Dangerous' Than COVID

Indian health authorities are working to contain a Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal after confirming five cases in Kolkata this month. The infections, first detected in two healthcare workers, have led to nearly 100 people being placed under quarantine, with no deaths reported thus far.

While the virus has not spread internationally in 2026, remaining confined to India and Bangladesh, its high fatality rate—up to 75 per cent—has prompted heightened concern, positioning it as potentially more dangerous than Covid-19 in terms of individual lethality, though far less contagious.

The Outbreak in West Bengal

The latest Nipah virus outbreak emerged when two nurses at Narayana Multispeciality Hospital in Barasat, near Kolkata, fell ill with high fevers and respiratory issues between 28 and 30 December. Admitted to intensive care on 4 January, they tested positive for Nipah on 13 January via RT-PCR at the National Institute of Virology in Pune. Subsequently, three additional cases were confirmed among close contacts, totalling five.

All patients are stable but critical, treated with Remdesivir. Contact tracing has identified 190 individuals, all testing negative so far. A national joint outbreak response team, involving the Union Health Ministry and state officials, is conducting investigations to pinpoint the infection source. This is West Bengal's first Nipah incident in 19 years, following outbreaks in 2001 and 2007. In contrast, Kerala has seen near-annual occurrences from 2018 to 2025.

Fruit bats, the primary hosts, are suspected, though the exact transmission path remains unclear. Meanwhile, Bangladesh reported four fatal cases in 2025, highlighting the regional persistence.

Symptoms and Why It's More Dangerous Than Covid

Infected individuals initially experience symptoms akin to a severe flu: fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and sore throat. This can swiftly escalate to neurological complications, including dizziness, drowsiness, altered mental status, and acute encephalitis. In grave instances, seizures and coma ensue within 24 to 48 hours, often proving fatal.

The incubation period ranges from 4 to 14 days, occasionally up to 45 days. Unlike Covid-19, which transmits efficiently via airborne particles and has a global fatality rate around 2 per cent, Nipah spreads primarily through direct contact with bodily fluids or contaminated consumables like raw date palm sap. Its case fatality rate, however, soars between 40 and 75 per cent, making it deadlier on a per-case basis.

'The mortality rate of Nipah can be as high as 50 to 70 per cent, compared to Covid's 2 to 3 per cent,' noted a Kolkata-based doctor. With no approved vaccine or targeted antiviral, supportive care is the mainstay, underscoring the virus' threat. Hardly a surprise, given its classification as a WHO priority pathogen with epidemic potential.

Prevention Measures and Vaccine Developments

To curb Nipah, authorities recommend steering clear of bat habitats, avoiding uncooked date palm sap, and enforcing strict infection control in hospitals. Quarantine, surveillance, and public awareness campaigns are pivotal in outbreak zones. Research is accelerating: the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has allocated over £74.1 million ($100 million) to Nipah initiatives, backing multiple vaccine candidates.

The University of Oxford initiated the first Phase II trial in Bangladesh in late 2025, enrolling participants to assess safety and immunogenicity, as shared by the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center on X.

As of 23 January 2026, no fresh cases have surfaced in the West Bengal Nipah virus outbreak, suggesting effective containment. Nonetheless, experts stress sustained monitoring, particularly in bat-populated regions of South Asia. The situation serves as a reminder of zoonotic dangers lurking in the shadows.