India’s recent Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal has alarmed Southeast Asia and China because the virus is a highly deadly zoonotic pathogen that can pass from animals (especially fruit bats) to humans and between people through close contact. Nipah infection can incubate for 5–14 days and cause severe symptoms including fever, neurological complications. While the virus is highly lethal with a fatality rate of 40% to 75%, experts note its limited human-to-human transmission makes a widespread pandemic unlikely. The confirmation of two Nipah virus cases has triggered heightened health screenings at airports across Southeast Asia and China, especially as millions prepare for Lunar New Year travel. Currently, there are no approved vaccines or treatments, although clinical trials are underway in Bangladesh.
Date: January 29, 2026. Source: aljazeera.com