Nipah virus outbreak: what is Nipah virus and the signs and symptoms after woman dies
Nipah virus has a high fatality rate 🚨
- One person has died from Nipah virus in Bangladesh.
- It comes after an outbreak of Nipah virus was confirmed in India.
- Nipah virus has a high fatality rate and has been described as a ’priority disease’ by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
A patient in Bangladesh has died after becoming infected with Nipah virus, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed.
The female, who was aged between 40 and 50 years, was from the Naogaon District, Rajshahi Division, in north-western Bangladesh. She presented with symptoms including fever, headache, muscle aches and vomiting, on January 21 and was admitted to the hospital on January 28, after falling unconscious.
Nipah virus has a high fatality rate, with 40 to 75% of cases resulting in death. Because of this risk, it’s been designated as a “priority disease” by the WHO.
There have been cases of Nipah virus infections in Bangladesh every year since it was first detected in 2001. There were four laboratory-confirmed deaths from the Nipah virus in 2025.
It comes after an outbreak was confirmed in India in two health workers on January 13 in Kolkata, West Bengal State, India. Over 100 people who came into contact with them have been quarantined as a precaution, as authorities try to prevent any further cases.
Airport screenings across Asia have been stepped up, similar to what occurred during the Covid pandemic, whilst tourists travelling to the area have been advised to avoid bats or consuming any products made with raw date sap or juice.
What is the Nipah virus?
The Nipah virus was first documented in 1998 after an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia. It is a zoonotic infection that can be spread from animals to humans; however, it can also spread from person to person through close contact.
Cases have since been found in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore. Humans can be infected through direct contact with infected animals such as fruit bats, pigs, or horses, or by consuming contaminated fruit or fruit products such as raw date palm sap or juice.
Nipah virus outbreaks were identified in India and Bangladesh in 2001. In Bangladesh, there have been outbreaks almost every year since. In India, outbreaks are reported periodically, with the latest outbreak confirmed in January 2026.
What are the symptoms of the Nipah virus?
The symptoms of Nipah virus can take between four and 14 days to materialise; some people can have no symptoms at all and can be asymptomatic. For those who do get symptoms, they appear suddenly as a flu-like illness or fever, with symptoms involving the brain, lungs or other organs.
Nipah virus can lead to serious complications like pneumonia, encephalitis or meningitis and has a high mortality rate, with the fatality rate estimated to be between 40% to 75%. There is no known scientific treatment or vaccine, and for those who do survive the infection, one in five will experience long-term neurological complications.
The Nipah virus has a high fatality rate, and there is no known scientific treatment available. You can find out more about the risks at GOV.UK.