The World Health Organization (WHO) has reiterated that India’s recent Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal, confirmed in two healthcare workers, poses a low risk of further spread at the national, regional, and global levels, and there is currently no need for travel or trade restrictions.
Indian authorities report that all 196 identified contacts have tested negative and no additional cases have been detected. Despite this, several Asian countries including Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Nepal, and China have instituted airport screening measures as a precautionary step. India’s public health containment efforts and WHO monitoring continue as international vigilance remains high.
WHO Assessment & Official Confirmations
On 26 January 2026, India’s National IHR (International Health Regulations) Focal Point informed WHO of two laboratory-confirmed Nipah virus infections in Barasat, North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
Both patients, 25-year-old nurses employed at the same private hospital, developed rapid onset symptoms in late December 2025, including neurological complications typical of Nipah virus disease. As of 21 January, one patient is on mechanical ventilation while the other has shown clinical improvement under isolation.
WHO’s latest epidemiological bulletin details that more than 190 contacts including healthcare workers and community contacts were traced, monitored and tested using RT-PCR and ELISA methods, with all testing negative. No additional confirmed cases have emerged.
Based on these data, WHO assesses that while the risk is moderate at the sub-national level due to ecological factors such as bat reservoirs, the risk remains low at national, regional and global levels.
In a related WHO statement reported by major agencies, the organisation has emphasised there is no evidence of increased human-to-human transmission in this outbreak and that no travel or trade restrictions are recommended at this time. WHO is continuing close coordination with Indian authorities on surveillance, risk assessment and outbreak response.
Regional Reactions and Global Precautions
Public health responses across Asia have varied. Several countries including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Nepal have instituted Covid-style airport screenings, thermal checks, and health declarations for travellers from Indian regions reporting Nipah cases.
In Bangkok, over 1,700 passengers arriving from Kolkata were screened with no infections detected, illustrating both the high vigilance and the limited yield of such measures.
Experts quoted by Reuters and other news outlets caution that such screening measures which are largely visible and reassuring to the public offer limited scientific protection given Nipah’s incubation period and mode of transmission, which typically requires close contact with infected bodily fluids or exposure to contaminated animal products. WHO itself has not recommended routine airport screening for Nipah, stressing instead on robust surveillance and rapid local response mechanisms.
At Kolkata’s airport, the Airport Health Officer clarified in discussions with international airlines that no additional passenger screening is needed based on current evidence, and that existing public health protocols are adequate. Despite this, nearby nations like Thailand and Nepal have maintained temperature and health screenings as precautionary practice.
Indian Government Actions & Public Health Context
The Union Health Ministry and the West Bengal government have affirmed that only two confirmed Nipah cases have occurred since December 2025, urging the public and media to rely on verified data to avoid misinformation and undue fear. The National Centre for Disease Control has confirmed all contacts tested negative, indicating containment success so far.
In response to early suspected cases in January, the National Joint Outbreak Response Team which includes experts from AIIMS Kalyani, the National Institute of Virology (Pune), the National Institute of Epidemiology (Chennai), and wildlife surveillance units was deployed to support state authorities in containment operations. This included contact tracing, laboratory diagnostics, enhanced surveillance, infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, and public communication.
Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic disease primarily carried by fruit bats (Pteropus species) and has previously caused outbreaks in South Asia, including in Kerala and West Bengal.
The infection can range from asymptomatic to severe encephalitis and respiratory disease. Case fatality rates in past outbreaks have ranged from 40% to 75%, and no licensed vaccines or targeted therapeutics currently exist, making early detection and strong public health action essential.
Scientific & Public Health Analysis
Beyond immediate containment, scientists emphasise the importance of understanding the ecological drivers behind Nipah virus spillovers. The virus circulates naturally in bat populations and can spill over through contact with bat secretions or contaminated food products such as date palm sap.
Previous outbreaks have underscored the need for One Health approaches that integrate human, animal, and environmental surveillance to identify risk early and mitigate spread.
Public health researchers also note that lessons from earlier Nipah responses particularly in Kerala where swift contact tracing and community engagement have successfully contained multiple outbreaks highlight the value of community-centric preparedness rather than reactive measures alone.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The re-emergence of a high-fatality zoonotic virus like Nipah serves as a stark reminder of the complex interplay between human health, wildlife, environment and global interconnectedness.
While WHO and Indian authorities have wisely communicated that the immediate risk remains low, the cautious reactions of neighbouring countries reflect the psychological imprint of the COVID-19 pandemic on public consciousness. At a time when misinformation can spread faster than pathogens, scientific clarity, transparent communication, and community solidarity are our strongest tools against fear and stigma.
