The Spread of Nipah Virus in India: Should You Be Concerned?

From the Editor’s Desk

January 24, 2026

Doctors in eastern India have identified at least five people infected with Nipah virus cases, including doctors and nurses, and nearly one hundred others have been told to isolate themselves at home. One patient is reported to be in critical condition. For many, this raises a basic but serious question, what is this virus, and should they be worried? The short answer is that panic is not necessary, but paying attention is.

Nipah virus is carried by fruit bats, which are large bats that often feed on ripe fruit in trees. The virus lives in their bodies without making them sick. When they lick or bite fruit, or when their saliva, urine or droppings fall on fruit, the virus can be left behind. If people eat that fruit without washing or peeling it, they can fall ill. The virus can also spread from animals like pigs that come into contact with bats.

Once a human is infected, they can pass the virus to other people through close contact, especially if their saliva, urine or other body fluids are touched. This is why doctors, nurses and family members who care for sick patients are often at higher risk.

When someone catches Nipah virus, it usually starts out looking like any regular viral illness, including fever, tiredness, body ache, sore throat and maybe a cough. But within a few days, things can take a sharp turn. Some people begin to have serious trouble breathing. Others may develop a swelling in the brain. This condition, called encephalitis, causes confusion, drowsiness, seizures and even coma.

In past outbreaks, patients who reached this stage often died within a few days. For survivors, recovery can still be difficult, with lasting damage to the brain. Some continue to suffer from seizures or changes in personality. There have even been cases where people who seemed to have recovered got sick again many months later.

Unlike the flu or COVID-19, Nipah virus doesn’t usually spread through the air. It doesn’t jump quickly from person to person in crowded places. It spreads mainly through very close contact, like caring for a sick person, sharing utensils or towels, or cleaning up their vomit or urine. This is why the general public is not at high risk. But in outbreak areas, and especially in hospitals, the risk is real and demands quick action.

The virus has no known cure. There is no medicine that can remove it from the body. There is also no vaccine to prevent it. The only available treatment is supportive care: giving the patient fluids, oxygen or medication to reduce symptoms while the body tries to fight off the virus on its own.

This outbreak in West Bengal is not the first. India has seen Nipah cases before, including serious outbreaks in Kerala. Each time, health workers managed to bring the situation under control, but the virus has never disappeared entirely. Because the bats that carry it are widespread, especially in parts of South and Southeast Asia, there is always a chance that it can return. In fact, Bangladesh has seen Nipah outbreaks almost every year.

The virus is now considered one of the top global threats by the World Health Organization. Scientists fear that if it ever changes in a way that makes it easier to spread between people, it could spark a much larger crisis.

It is important to focus on what we can do now.

The current outbreak appears to be limited. The government has traced the contacts of the infected people and asked them to stay home. Hospitals are taking precautions. Surveillance teams are monitoring for new cases. The earlier the response, the easier it is to stop the virus from spreading further.

But public awareness is equally important. Everyone can reduce their risk by following a few basic rules.

If you live in or near an area with reported cases, avoid eating fruit that might have been picked from the ground or shows signs of being bitten. Wash fruit thoroughly or peel it before eating. Avoid drinking raw fruit juice unless you are sure it has been boiled. Do not touch bats or dead animals, and if you work around pigs or other animals, wear gloves and clean your hands often. If someone near you falls ill with fever and confusion or drowsiness, especially after recent travel or exposure, seek medical help immediately and avoid direct contact.

What makes Nipah dangerous is its high death rate. In some outbreaks, more than half the people who got infected died. That is far higher than most viruses we are familiar with. It also shows how quickly a situation can turn serious if basic measures are ignored.

For now, most people in India are safe. But the story is still unfolding in West Bengal, and future outbreaks in other states are not impossible. This is a moment to learn, not to fear.

What stands between small outbreaks and major disasters is our ability to act early, share reliable information and take practical steps to protect ourselves and others.

You have just read a News Briefing, written by Newsreel Asia’s text editor, Vishal Arora, to cut through the noise and present a single story for the day that matters to you. We encourage you to read the News Briefing each day. Our objective is to help you become not just an informed citizen, but an engaged and responsible one.