WHO Assesses Low Risk of Nipah Spread from India, No Travel Restrictions Advised

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the risk of Nipah virus spreading from India is currently low, affirming the country's capacity to manage such situations. Despite confirming two Nipah cases in West Bengal, the WHO advises against imposing any travel or trade restrictions, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance. The two confirmed patients are 25-year-old nurses, a male and a female, working at a private hospital in Barasat, North 24 Parganas district. They began showing neurological symptoms in late December 2025. While the male patient's condition has improved, the female patient remains critical. All contacts of both patients have tested negative for the virus. The Union Health Ministry has cautioned the public against misinformation, confirming only these two cases since December and urging reliance on official sources. Nipah is a rare but deadly virus primarily transmitted from fruit bats to humans, with limited human-to-human transmission. Experts note that it is not as rapidly transmissible as viruses like COVID-19 or influenza. This marks the seventh Nipah outbreak in India and the third in West Bengal.