New Delhi – Two confirmed cases of the Nipah virus in India have prompted health authorities in parts of Asia to increase screening measures, particularly at airports, as officials seek to prevent further spread of the deadly infection.
The cases were reported this month, leading countries such as Thailand and Malaysia to step up monitoring of travellers arriving from affected areas. The move comes amid renewed public attention on a virus known for its high fatality rate and recurring outbreaks in South Asia.
Nipah virus is a rare zoonotic infection that is transmitted mainly from animals to humans, with fruit bats identified as the natural host. According to the World Health Organization, infection can be asymptomatic but is often severe, with a case fatality rate ranging from 40 percent to 75 percent depending on the capacity of local health systems to detect and manage cases.
Experts say that although the virus can spread from person to person, it does not do so easily. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control notes that outbreaks are usually small and relatively contained. Several vaccine candidates are under development, but none have yet been approved for use.
The virus was first identified in Malaysia in 1999. Since then, small outbreaks have been recorded almost every year, mostly in Bangladesh, with India also reporting sporadic cases. Figures from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations show that by December, a total of 750 cases had been documented globally, with 415 deaths. Reuters previously examined the history and spread of the virus in its 2023 series, Bat Lands.
When Nipah was first detected, transmission was largely linked to direct contact with infected pigs or contaminated tissues. More recent outbreaks have been associated with fruit bats. The World Health Organization says infection most commonly occurs through the consumption of fruit or fruit products such as raw date palm juice contaminated with saliva or urine from infected bats. Human to human transmission has been recorded mainly among family members and caregivers after close contact with sick patients.
Early symptoms include fever, headache and muscle pain, which are not specific and can be mistaken for other illnesses. These may progress to neurological complications linked to acute encephalitis, along with severe respiratory problems. In advanced cases, seizures can occur, with patients slipping into a coma within days. While many survivors recover fully, some are left with long term neurological complications.
Despite its severity, scientists say Nipah has not shown signs of becoming more easily transmissible among humans or spreading widely across the globe. The World Health Organization continues to classify it as a significant public health concern, particularly in countries where outbreaks recur, and notes that it can also lead to the large scale culling of farm animals such as pigs.
There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for Nipah virus. Several candidates are undergoing testing, including one developed by scientists at Oxford University who were involved in producing a COVID 19 vaccine. That candidate uses the same technology and entered phase two trials in Bangladesh in December, in collaboration with the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, with funding from CEPI.
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