'Low Risk Of Spreading Beyond Country': WHO Reacts After India Reported Two Nipah Virus Cases

Last Updated:January 30, 2026, 13:50 IST

WHO stated that India has the capacity to contain such outbreaks after two cases of the deadly Nipah virus were reported.

WHO said Nipah virus outbreak in India has a ‘low risk’ of spreading. (File photo)

The World Health Organization (WHO) reacted to the two cases of the deadly Nipah virus reported from India and said it has a “low risk" of spreading outside the country. It did not recommend any travel or trade restrictions at this time.

In response to these reported cases, several Asian countries, including Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, have ramped up airport screening procedures to prevent any potential spread.

“The WHO considers the risk of further spread of infection from these two cases is low," WHO told Reuters in an email on Friday. It also stated that India has the capacity to contain such outbreaks.

The organisation also noted there is no evidence of increased human-to-human transmission and confirmed that it is working in coordination with Indian health authorities.

However, the WHO did not entirely dismiss the possibility of further exposure to the virus.

The Nipah virus, which is carried by fruit bats and animals such as pigs, circulates in parts of India and neighbouring Bangladesh. It can cause fever and brain inflammation, with a fatality rate ranging from 40% to 75%. No cure exists, although vaccines are currently under development and testing.

The virus primarily spreads to humans from infected bats or contaminated fruit, and person-to-person transmission typically requires prolonged contact with infected individuals. Although small outbreaks are not uncommon, virologists maintain that the risk to the general population remains low.

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