GENEVA: The World Health Organization said Friday the risk of the Nipah virus spreading beyond India remains low following reports of two new infections.
The assessment came after India reported two recent infections, prompting precautionary screening measures in parts of Asia. In a statement on Friday, the WHO said it does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions related to the reported cases, according to Reuters.
The WHO emphasised that India has the public health capacity and experience needed to respond swiftly to such incidents.
“The WHO considers the risk of further spread of infection from these two cases is low,” the agency said, adding that there is currently no evidence of increased human-to-human transmission.
It also noted that it is working closely with Indian health authorities to monitor the situation and provide technical support where needed.
Several Asian locations — including Pakistan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam — have stepped up airport health screening as a precautionary measure.
These actions reflect heightened vigilance rather than an indication of imminent risk, health experts say. While the WHO did not rule out the possibility of further exposure, it highlighted that Nipah virus transmission patterns are well understood.
The virus circulates naturally in fruit bats in parts of India and neighbouring Bangladesh and can also infect animals such as pigs.
Nipah infection can cause fever and inflammation of the brain, and while it has a high fatality rate ranging from 40 per cent to 75 per cent, outbreaks have historically been limited in scale.
There is currently no licensed cure, but several vaccine candidates are in development and undergoing testing, offering hope for future prevention.
Transmission to humans typically occurs through direct contact with infected bats or consumption of fruit contaminated by them. Person-to-person spread is uncommon and usually requires prolonged, close contact, which significantly limits wider transmission.
Virologists note that small, contained outbreaks are not unusual and that the overall risk to the general population remains low. The WHO said the exact source of the latest infections is still being investigated.
It continues to classify Nipah as a priority pathogen due to the absence of approved treatments, its high fatality rate, and the theoretical risk of mutation into a more easily transmissible form — a classification that helps ensure sustained global research and preparedness.
‘Nipah not new to India.’
The two infected health workers in India’s eastern state of West Bengal, reported in late December, are currently receiving hospital treatment, according to local authorities. Their condition is being closely monitored, and contact tracing efforts are underway as a precaution.
India has previously dealt with sporadic Nipah cases, most notably in the southern state of Kerala, which is considered one of the world’s higher-risk regions for the virus. Since the virus first emerged there in 2018, health systems have strengthened surveillance, rapid response, and public awareness, contributing to better containment outcomes.
After two nurses in West Bengal, India, tested positive for #Nipah virus infection, the central and state government health agencies have enhanced surveillance, laboratory testing, and field investigations.
196 contact persons linked to the confirmed cases have been identified,… pic.twitter.com/l5miVTrZe7
— World Health Organization South-East Asia (@WHOSEARO) January 29, 2026
According to the WHO, this is the seventh documented Nipah outbreak in India and the third in West Bengal. Earlier outbreaks in the state occurred in 2001 and 2007 in districts bordering Bangladesh, a country that reports Nipah cases almost annually.
Health experts say the latest WHO assessment reinforces confidence that, with continued vigilance and coordinated public health measures, Nipah outbreaks can be effectively managed without posing a broader regional or global threat.
