'Nipah is rare but serious': WHO chief warns against virus, says cases confined to India
PTC News Desk: World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Saturday cautioned that while Nipah virus infections are uncommon, they are highly serious. He added that the recent cases linked to the outbreak have been confined to India, with no reports from any other country. The warning came a day after the WHO stated that the virus poses a low risk of wider spread and does not warrant any travel or trade restrictions.
“The two case of Nipah virus infection reported by India in West Bengal are the third in this state since the virus was first identified in 1998,” Ghebreyesus worte in a post on X. He also said that authorities in India were following over 190 contacts, and none have developed the disease so far.
“Authorities have increased disease surveillance and testing, implemented prevention and control measures in health care settings, and are keeping the public informed about how to protect themselves,” he further wrote.
Nipah is a rare but serious disease.
The two case of Nipah virus infection reported by India in West Bengal are the third in this state since the virus was first identified in 1998.
No cases have been reported in any other country linked to this outbreak.
Indian authorities… pic.twitter.com/u0VYEerWnv — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 31, 2026
The global health body has also noted that there is no evidence of increased human-to-human transmission, which is why the overall risk assessment remains low.
Earlier, two Nipah virus cases were confirmed in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, involving two nurses. Health authorities later reported that both patients showed improvement and subsequently tested negative for the infection. The male nurse has been discharged, while the female nurse was removed from ventilator support and continues to remain under medical observation.
According to the WHO, Nipah virus is transmitted from bats to humans and can spread through close contact or contaminated food. Common symptoms include fever, muscle aches and headaches, which can make early detection challenging.
In severe cases, the infection can cause inflammation of the brain, with fatality rates ranging between 40% and 75%.
- With inputs from agencies
