India Confirms 2 Cases of Deadly Nipah Virus

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Two confirmed cases of the rare and deadly Nipah virus have prompted the World Health Organization and other health officials to activate their outbreak response protocols. The cases involve two nurses who worked at the same private hospital in Barasat, India. While India's Health Ministry says all contacts have been quarantined and tested, several Asian countries are taking precautionary measures at airports to prevent potential spread, including temperature checks and increased monitoring at border crossings.

Why it matters

Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that can spread from bats to humans, as well as through human-to-human contact. It has an estimated fatality rate between 40-75%, making it deadlier than COVID-19. The virus has caused outbreaks in India in the past, with a major outbreak in 2018 that killed at least 17 people in Kerala state. Health authorities are closely monitoring the situation to prevent a wider outbreak.

The details

The two confirmed Nipah cases involve nurses who worked at the same private hospital in Barasat, India. While early media reports suggested a surge in cases, health authorities said those figures were "speculative and incorrect." Nipah virus spreads through fruit bats, pigs, horses and human-to-human contact. It can cause fevers, headaches, confusion, breathing difficulties, seizures and brain inflammation that can lead to a coma. There is no vaccine, and treatment involves supportive care to control complications.

• The two confirmed Nipah cases were reported on January 30, 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Health authorities in India and across Asia will continue to closely monitor the situation and enforce precautionary measures to contain the spread of the Nipah virus.