In January 2026, health authorities in India confirmed a small outbreak of the Nipah virus in West Bengal, involving two healthcare workers—both nurses at a private hospital in Barasat. This prompted immediate containment measures, including contact tracing and monitoring of over 190 individuals, all of whom tested negative as of late January. Neighboring countries such as Thailand and Nepal implemented health screenings at airports for travelers arriving from affected areas. While the immediate risk to the public remains low, authorities emphasize vigilance in preventing virus spread. Although antibodies to Nipah virus have been found in bat populations across Africa and Asia, human outbreaks have been documented only in India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. India’s West Bengal and Kerala have experienced nearly annual outbreaks since 2018, while Bangladesh sees yearly outbreaks linked to raw date palm sap contaminated by bats. Malaysia was the site of the first recognized outbreak in 1998–1999 among pig farmers, Singapore reported a single outbreak in 1999 involving imported pigs, and the Philippines had a limited outbreak in 2014 linked to infected horses. The virus was first identified in Sungai Nipah, Malaysia, and is naturally hosted by fruit bats of the Pteropus genus. Transmission occurs through direct contact with infected animals or their secretions, consumption of contaminated food such as raw date palm sap, or close human-to-human contact in healthcare or household settings.

Currently, there are no licensed vaccines or specific antiviral treatments for humans, and clinical care remains limited to intensive supportive care for symptoms such as brain inflammation and respiratory distress. However, vaccine research has accelerated in recent years. Oxford University’s ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccine, using a viral vector platform similar to the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, entered Phase II trials in Bangladesh in late 2025 and has received PRIME designation from the European Medicines Agency to fast-track development. Other promising candidates include HeV-sG-V, a protein subunit vaccine developed by Auro Vaccines and PATH, which completed Phase I trials in December 2025 with strong immune responses, Moderna/NIH’s mRNA-1215 targeting viral fusion and attachment proteins, and PHV02, a live-attenuated viral vector vaccine using recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus technology, preparing to enter Phase II trials. Emerging research explores self-amplifying mRNA vaccines, and the Serum Institute of India is building an emergency reserve of investigational Oxford vaccine doses. Because Nipah outbreaks are sporadic, large Phase III trials are difficult, so regulators like the US FDA and EMA are considering alternative approval pathways based on animal studies combined with human safety data.

While the risk to tourists remains low, the World Health Organization (WHO) and national health authorities recommend strict preventive measures. Travelers should avoid raw date palm sap, wash and peel fruits themselves, discard bitten or fallen fruits, and consume only fully cooked meals. Avoiding contact with bats, livestock, and sick animals is crucial, along with practicing frequent hand hygiene and minimizing close contact with anyone showing illness symptoms. Airport screenings are in place in India, Thailand, and Nepal, and travelers should monitor their health for up to 14 days after potential exposure, seeking medical care immediately if symptoms develop and informing doctors of recent travel. WHO currently does not recommend travel or trade restrictions but emphasizes vigilance, early detection, and adherence to standard health precautions. With ongoing outbreaks in South Asia and advances in vaccine development, global public health agencies continue to prioritize awareness, prevention, and international collaboration to minimize the impact of this rare but deadly zoonotic virus.

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