Nipah Virus Outbreak Sparks Global Concern as WHO Flags High Mortality Risk

Health authorities are monitoring a limited outbreak of the Nipah virus in West Bengal, India, following confirmed cases in Barasat in late December 2025 and January 2026. Two healthcare workers tested positive, prompting the testing of over 190 close contacts, all of whom have tested negative. The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the risk as moderate at the sub-national level and low at the national and global levels. Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease with a high fatality rate (40% to 75%) and currently has no licensed vaccine or targeted treatment. While no sustained human-to-human transmission has been observed, several Asian countries have increased border screenings as a precaution. The UK Health Security Agency is also monitoring the situation. Global health agencies continue to prioritize Nipah on research blueprints for urgent vaccine development.