Nipah virus: The World Health Organization said the risk of the Nipah virus spreading internationally from India remains low, after two confirmed infections were reported in India’s eastern state of West Bengal.
In an email response, the WHO said there is no evidence so far of increased human-to-human transmission linked to the two cases, and it is not recommending any travel or trade restrictions. The agency added that India has the capacity to contain such outbreaks and that it is coordinating with Indian health authorities.
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The assessment comes as several Asian locations, including Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, tightened airport screening checks this week following India’s confirmation of infections.
Nipah is a zoonotic virus carried primarily by fruit bats and can also spread via animals such as pigs. It can cause fever and encephalitis, and past outbreaks have shown a high case fatality rate, with no licensed treatment and vaccines still under development. Transmission between people is considered difficult and typically requires close, prolonged contact.
Indian authorities have said the two infected patients are hospitalised, and a contact-tracing effort linked to the cases tested negative, suggesting no wider community spread at this stage.