Why experts are watching closely

• Two new circumstances of the usually lethal zoonotic Nipah virus have been reported in West Bengal, India.
• A 1998 outbreak of the virus claimed the lives of over 100 folks.
• The virus’ uncommon modes of transmission make it an unlikely candidate for a worldwide pandemic.
• The virus is carried by fruit bats, or “flying foxes,” that infect a preferred delicacy in addition to different mammals with whom people work within the Asia-Pacific area.

In January 2026, India reported two new cases of the Nipah virus within the West Bengal space. One of many sufferers is reportedly displaying indicators of enchancment, whereas the opposite is receiving vital care.

This usually lethal zoonotic virus has a fatality price of between 40% and 75%, elevating issues even when such a small variety of circumstances are reported.

“In case you get the Nipah virus, it’s dangerous,” defined William Schaffner, MD, Professor within the Division of Infectious Illnesses at Vanderbilt College in Nashville, Tennessee. “It will possibly trigger encephalitis with a excessive mortality price, and even in the event you recuperate, you’re more likely to have long-term incapacity.”

Fruit bats from the Pteropodidae household, often known as ‘flying foxes’, are thought-about the natural host of the Nipah virus. They’re current in numerous elements of Asia and in Australia. Nonetheless, the virus doesn’t seem to trigger illness in fruit bats. Pigs and horses may carry the virus and are vulnerable to sickness.

Transmission of the virus can happen after consuming fruits or fruit merchandise, corresponding to uncooked date palm juice, contaminated by contaminated fruit bats. The Nipah virus can even transmit between folks by shut contact.

At current, the World Health Organization (WHO) assesses the chance posed by the Nipah virus to be average on the sub-national stage and low on the nationwide, regional and world ranges, as there was no confirmed unfold of circumstances outdoors India.

There’s a seasonal facet to Nipah outbreaks, mentioned Prem Prekash, PhD, analysis scientist with Meharry Medical School, additionally in Nashville. They have a tendency to peak between December and Might.

“Throughout this winter interval,” he mentioned, “bats expertise breeding and dietary stress from scarce pure meals sources, inflicting them to shed extra virus and search human-planted orchards.”

As well as, Prekash identified, “Cooler climate in these months prolongs the virus’ survival within the surroundings, rising the chance of oblique transmission by contaminated surfaces or fruits.”

And at last, the lack of habitat from mass deforestation is pushing fruit bats into nearer proximity with human populations.

The most important identified outbreak of the Nipah virus occurred in Malaysia’s Kampung Sungai Nipah Village in 1998. Roughly 300 pig farmers had been contaminated, and over 100 of them finally died.

At the moment, it was not identified that fruit bats had been the first vector for the illness, and it was seemingly the case, in any occasion, {that a} important variety of the farmers’ pigs consumed partially-eaten fruits that had been contaminated by contaminated bats. To stop additional unfold of the virus, hundreds of thousands of pigs had been slaughtered.

“That introduced the Nipah virus actually to public well being consideration,” mentioned Schaffner. “There have been outbreaks in Malaysia and India and different Southeast Asian international locations now and again.”

“I’m positive it occurred earlier than then, however that’s the time the virus first was recognized and related to outbreaks. I’m positive the virus has been right here for, you already know, many, many, a few years,” he surmised.

Schaffner additionally famous that serological surveys point out that pigs usually are not the one mammals within the Asia-Pacific area which were contaminated from fruit bats with the Nipah virus.

Along with regular handwashing with cleaning soap and water, the best preventive strategies include avoiding contact with bats, pigs, or folks carrying the virus, and keep away from consuming uncooked date palm sap. If consuming uncooked date palm sap, it’s advisable to boil it first to inactivate the virus.

Authorities within the affected area are netting palm bushes in an try and maintain fruit bats away from the bushes when sap is flowing. Protecting coverings on sap assortment pots are additionally a good suggestion.

That having been mentioned, Prekash mentioned to keep away from “fruits with any suspicious biting or scratch marks that may be contaminated by bat saliva or urine.”

Stopping an infection is harder for folks working with animals who could encounter fruit bats.

“Implement biosecurity measures on farms,” he instructed, “like separating pigs from fruit bushes or bat-attracting areas, and quarantine sick animals to stop amplification of the virus. Use full private protecting tools (PPE), together with gloves, robes, masks, and eye safety when caring for suspected or confirmed sufferers to keep away from publicity to bodily fluids.”

For medical personnel treating individuals who have Nipah virus, strict an infection controls are undoubtedly warranted. That is one space the place human-to-human an infection may very well be of appreciable concern, even when it has not been widespread.

There’s presently no accepted vaccine for the Nipah virus.

“This isn’t a typical sickness. And so there’s not an ideal incentive to create both a vaccine or a selected remedy. Science generally follows the monetary gradient,” mentioned Schaffner.

Prekash, nonetheless, cited “promising progress being made by The University of Oxford that has launched the world’s first Section II scientific trial of a Nipah virus vaccine candidate in Bangladesh.”

He additionally reported “an experimental monoclonal antibody referred to as m102.4, which has proven sturdy promise in animal research and restricted human use, however [which is] isn’t but broadly accepted or accessible.”

“Extra analysis labs must pitch in, as a way to contribute stronger drug or vaccination [solutions] sooner or later at massive scale,” mentioned Prekash.

“The remedy is fully symptomatic,” mentioned Schaffner. “There aren’t any particular antiviral brokers that work for Nipah.”

Prekash agreed, saying, “The one possibility proper now’s intensive supportive care, together with oxygen assist, mechanical air flow, administration of mind swelling, and fluid steadiness.”

Whereas there aren’t any particular remedies for Nipah virus at current, an early prognosis will promote early supportive care, which may help stop deaths and problems.

Though there are presently no accepted medication or vaccines for Nipah virus an infection, the WHO has recognized Nipah virus an infection as a precedence illness for the WHO Research and Development Blueprint. As such, a spread of candidate merchandise are underneath totally different phases of growth.

Following the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO recognized an inventory of high-priority pathogens with the potential to trigger future pandemics. The Nipah virus was included on this listing, highlighting that well being authorities are conscious of the virus’ potential threat.

Nonetheless, the WHO presently considers the chance of nationwide or world unfold of the Nipah virus to be low. Individuals who have Nipah virus usually are not more likely to be asymptomatic and out amongst different folks, or touring, as was the case, for instance, with COVID-19.

“I don’t assume so,” mentioned Schaffner. “I believe these are going to be very uncommon occasions. Sporadic, uncommon occasions.”

As proof of this, famous Prekash, “The current Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal, India — with solely two confirmed circumstances and no additional infections detected amongst 196 contacts — has been successfully contained by contact tracing, testing, and isolation measures.”