Hyderabad, Jan 30 (Reuters) — The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the risk of the deadly Nipah virus spreading beyond India remains low. The agency clarified that it does not recommend travel or trade restrictions following reports of two infections in India.
Several Asian countries, including Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, have intensified airport screening measures this week in response to the confirmed cases in India.
In an email to Reuters, the WHO emphasized, “The risk of further spread from these two cases is low,” and highlighted India’s capacity to contain such outbreaks. The organization also noted that there is currently no evidence of increased human-to-human transmission.
However, the WHO acknowledged the possibility of further exposure, given that the virus circulates naturally in bat populations in parts of India and neighboring Bangladesh. The virus, carried by fruit bats and animals like pigs, can cause severe symptoms such as fever and brain inflammation, with a fatality rate ranging from 40% to 75%. Currently, there are no licensed vaccines or treatments, although vaccine development is ongoing.
Transmission to humans typically occurs through contact with infected bats or contaminated fruit, with person-to-person spread being relatively difficult and usually requiring prolonged contact. Virologists consider small outbreaks common, and the overall risk to the general population remains low.
The source of the recent infections is still under investigation. The WHO classifies Nipah as a priority pathogen due to its high fatality rate, potential for mutation into a more transmissible form, and lack of effective medical countermeasures.
Nipah in India
India has a history of sporadic Nipah cases, especially in its southern state of Kerala, which is considered a high-risk region. The virus has caused dozens of deaths there since it was first identified in 2018. The current outbreak involves two health workers infected in West Bengal in late December. Authorities report that they are receiving treatment.
This marks India’s seventh documented Nipah outbreak, with West Bengal experiencing previous outbreaks in 2001 and 2007, particularly in districts bordering Bangladesh, where the virus is reported almost annually, according to the WHO.