Nipah virus surfaces in India
A confirmed Nipah virus outbreak in India’s West Bengal state has reignited public concern online.
Indian health authorities confirmed that two cases of the zoonotic virus were detected in West Bengal and have since been successfully contained, according to a report shared by ABC News on 29 January 2026.
While officials stressed that there is no evidence of widespread, the news quickly gained traction online, reviving fears shaped by past global health crises.
Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease, meaning it spreads from animals to humans, with fruit bats identified as its natural carriers. The virus can also be transmitted between people through close contact.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there is currently no approved vaccine or cure, and fatality rates in previous outbreaks have ranged from 40% to 75%.
Symptoms typically begin with fever, headaches, and respiratory problems, but in severe cases can escalate rapidly to encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that can be fatal.
First identified in 1998 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia and Singapore, the virus was named after the Malaysian village of Nipah, where it was initially detected.
That outbreak resulted in more than 100 deaths, and sporadic cases have been reported across parts of Southeast Asia in the years since.
Following the latest cases in India, several neighbouring Asian countries, including Thailand, Nepal and Taiwan, have introduced enhanced health screening measures for travellers arriving from India.
These include thermal scans and digital health declaration forms, reminiscent of protocols widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The WHO has previously classified Nipah as a priority pathogen due to its high fatality rate and potential to cause outbreaks, prompting ongoing research into possible treatments such as monoclonal antibodies and antiviral therapies.
Online reactions to the news have been mixed. Some users voiced alarm over the virus’s lethality and lack of treatment, while others urged calm, pointing out that authorities had acted swiftly and that the situation remained contained.
The discussion reflects lingering global sensitivity to health threats in a post-COVID world, where even limited outbreaks can quickly spark widespread anxiety and debate.