Nipah virus reports in West Bengal show no immediate fear, as cases remain contained and rare. It doesn’t spread as readily as SARS or COVID.

Nipah Virus Historical Death Toll by Outbreak

2001 (Siliguri, West Bengal): The first recognised outbreak in India caused 66 cases and resulted in 45 deaths.

2007 (Nadia, West Bengal): A second outbreak in West Bengal resulted in 5 deaths.

2018 (Kozhikode/Malappuram, Kerala): A major outbreak in Kerala claimed 17 to 21 lives.

2019 (Kochi, Kerala): One case was reported, who survived.

2021 (Kozhikode, Kerala): A 12-year-old boy died, resulting in 1 death.

2023 (Kozhikode, Kerala): Six cases were reported, resulting in 2 deaths.

2024 (Malappuram, Kerala): Two separate incidents in July and September caused 2 deaths.

2025/2026: As of January 2026, fresh outbreaks were reported in West Bengal (5 cases) and Kerala.

Key Takeaways

Primary Location: While the first outbreaks were in West Bengal, recent recurrent outbreaks (2018–2025) have been concentrated in Kerala.

Fatality Rate: The virus has an exceptionally high fatality rate in India, often reported above 70%, driven by Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).

Transmission: Outbreaks are often linked to fruit bat exposure (Pteropus species) or, in the case of the 2001 outbreak, human-to-human transmission in hospital settings.

What the experts say

Infectious diseases expert Leong Hoe Nam said the disease can spread from animals to humans through direct contact with an infected host animal and its fluids.

It can also be transmitted through close contact with an infected person or the person’s body fluids, he said.

The Nipah virus is not very contagious, said Professor Paul Tambyah, former president of the Asia-Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection.

He added that direct human transmission is rare and no instances of the virus spreading through casual contact have been documented.

Prof Tambyah said: “The official Indian Health Ministry statement about this current outbreak states that there are only two confirmed cases, despite their screening more than a hundred contacts of the index case.

“In the 1999 outbreak in Singapore and Malaysia, there was no significant human-to-human transmission. The West Bengal situation is a bit different, probably due to a combination of differences between the virus, as well as the resources available in the different settings

---

Check Out Knapsack Books by Chan Joon Yee