The World Health Organisation (WHO) issued alerted countries following the confirmation of two cases of the rare but deadly Nipah virus (NiV) infection in India’s West Bengal State.
While no cases have been confirmed in Kenya or elsewhere in Africa, WHO says the outbreak calls for heightened monitoring, effective disease surveillance systems, and preparation to respond rapidly should the virus cross borders.
Healthcare personnel at a private hospital in Barasat, close to Kolkata, are involved in the two confirmed cases in India. While one patient has shown signs of recovery, the other is still dangerously ill and on artificial ventilation. More than 190 contacts have been traced and tested, all producing negative results.
The Nipah virus now poses a moderate danger at the sub-national level in India and a low risk at the national, regional, and global levels, according to a WHO assessment shared with member states. However, the organisation cautioned that countries must stay vigilant due to international travel and trade.
Nipah virus is a dangerous zoonotic illness transmitted to people by infected animals, notably fruit bats, or through food contaminated with animal saliva, urine, or droppings. It can also spread through close human-to-human contact, especially in healthcare settings.
Kenya has large bat populations and extensive human-wildlife interaction, particularly in rural and peri-urban regions, elements that health experts say make preparedness crucial even in the absence of verified cases.
Nipah virus infection can range from moderate symptoms such as fever, headache and muscle discomfort to severe respiratory disease and deadly encephalitis. In difficult situations, patients might decline rapidly, sliding into a coma within 24 to 48 hours. There is presently no registered vaccine or specialised therapy, with care mostly supportive.
The WHO and Kenya’s Ministry of Health have previously collaborated on preparations for viral haemorrhagic fevers and other high-risk infections, such as Marburg and Ebola. WHO is now pushing nations to apply similar preparation frameworks to the Nipah virus, including educating healthcare personnel, boosting infection control measures, and enhancing public awareness.
WHO further recommended the public to rely on official information and avoid disinformation, stressing that early reporting of symptoms and safe dietary habits are crucial to prevention.
Two laboratory-confirmed instances of Nipah virus (NiV) infection have been reported in West Bengal, India. This is the third time the rare but fatal disease has appeared in the state since it was first discovered in 1998.
The cases, both involving healthcare personnel at a private hospital in Barasat, North 24 Parganas district, were officially reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) on January 26, 2026, by India’s National International Health Regulations (IHR) Focal Point.
The two patients, a male nurse and a female nurse between the ages of 20 and 30, were admitted to the hospital in early January 2025 after exhibiting symptoms consistent with a severe Nipah virus infection in late December 2025, according to health authorities. Following RT-PCR and ELISA testing, the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune confirmed laboratory confirmation on January 13.