Two cases of Nipah virus infection have been confirmed in West Bengal, India, involving two young healthcare workers at the same private hospital in Barasat, North 24 Parganas district. The confirmation was made by the National Institute of Virology in Pune on 13 January 2026 using RT‑PCR and ELISA testing.
The patients, a female nurse and a male nurse aged between 20 and 30, developed symptoms in late December 2025 and were admitted to hospital in early January.
One of them remains in critical condition on mechanical ventilation, while the other, who suffered severe neurological illness, has shown clinical improvement.
Health authorities moved quickly to prevent further spread. More than 190 contacts, including hospital staff and community members, were identified and tested, all of whom returned negative results for Nipah virus.
“The World Health Organization has assessed the public health risk from the current event as moderate at the sub‑national level and low at the national, regional and global levels, noting that the outbreak remains geographically limited and that India has strong surveillance and response systems in place” – World Health Organisation
A mobile biosafety level‑3 laboratory was deployed to support rapid testing, and enhanced surveillance and infection prevention measures were put in place. As of 27 January 2026, no additional cases have been detected according to WHO report dated 30 January 2026
This is the third Nipah outbreak reported in West Bengal, following previous incidents in 2001 and 2007. Nipah virus is a rare but serious zoonotic disease carried by fruit bats and can spread to humans through contaminated food, infected animals, or close contact with an infected person. Human‑to‑human transmission has been documented in past outbreaks, particularly in healthcare settings.
There are currently no licensed vaccines or specific treatments for Nipah virus infection, and care is mainly supportive. The disease is known for its high fatality rate, which has ranged from 40% to 75% in previous outbreaks across South and South‑East Asia.
The World Health Organization has assessed the public health risk from the current event as moderate at the sub‑national level and low at the national, regional and global levels, noting that the outbreak remains geographically limited and that India has strong surveillance and response systems in place.
WHO has not recommended any travel or trade restrictions related to the situation.
Authorities have advised the public to avoid consuming raw date palm sap, wash and peel fruits before eating, and avoid close, unprotected contact with people showing symptoms consistent with Nipah virus disease.
Hospitals have been urged to maintain strict infection prevention and control practices to protect patients and healthcare workers.
