There is a low risk of the deadly Nipah virus spreading from India, the World Health Organization said on Friday, adding that it did not recommend travel or trade curbs after two infections reported by the South Asian nation.

India confirmed 2 laboratory-confirmed cases of Nipah virus infection in the state of West Bengal in January 2026; both patients were 25-year-old nurses employed at the same private hospital in Barasat and developed neurologic complications after symptom onset in late December 2025. 1

Nipah virus cases in West Bengal have prompted heightened surveillance across Asia, with airports and border crossings implementing health screenings. While not highly transmissible like COVID-19, Nipah has a high fatality rate and spreads through close contact,

New cases of Nipah virus (NiV) have emerged in West Bengal, India, raising concerns in Asian countries. Five people have been confirmed infected in the state so far, including a doctor and a nurse. In response,

The Trump administration this week sent out an alert about the Nipah virus after two cases were confirmed in West Bengal, India

The Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal has prompted health checks at airports across Asia due to confirmed cases. Meanwhile, Chinese researchers found a potential treatment, VV116, which increased survival rates in hamsters.