The World Health Organization (WHO) currently assesses the global risk posed by the Nipah virus as low.
According to WHO, there are no signs that the virus is spreading beyond India, and no international chains of transmission have been recorded.
Nevertheless, the Nipah virus is included on WHO’s list of priority diseases.
This means that authorities are closely monitoring developments and supporting research, but it does not mean that a global epidemic is considered likely.
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Experience shows that infected individuals often become seriously ill quickly, which reduces the risk of widespread transmission.
What happened in India?
According to Medical News Today, two cases of Nipah virus were recorded in January 2026 in the Indian state of West Bengal.
One patient is recovering, while the other remains hospitalized in critical condition.
Authorities have isolated the infected individuals and monitored nearly 200 people who were in close contact with them. No additional infections have been detected.
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The Nipah virus has a high fatality rate of between 40 and 75 percent.
William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, has explained that the virus can cause severe encephalitis and long-term health problems in survivors.
Why do outbreaks occur?
According to researcher Prem Prekash from Meharry Medical College, Nipah outbreaks are often linked to seasonal factors.
They occur most frequently from December to May, when fruit bats face food shortages and therefore move closer to human populations.
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The virus is typically transmitted via fruit or juice contaminated by bats, as well as through close human-to-human contact.
Deforestation and changes in natural environments increase this contact.
The Nipah virus is serious, but it usually remains a local problem when outbreaks are managed quickly.
Sources: Medical News Today, and Verdenssundhedsorganisationen (WHO).
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This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.