Authorities say that steps are being taken to comprise the virus and that threat of a worldwide unfold of the virus stays low.
Printed On 7 Feb 2026
The World Well being Group (WHO) has stated {that a} affected person in Bangladesh died after contracting the Nipah virus, including that it believes the danger of the illness spreading internationally nonetheless stays low.
The WHO stated on Friday {that a} affected person died after being admitted to hospital on January 28, the place a crew collected throat swabs and blood samples. An infection with the virus was laboratory-confirmed the next day.
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“On 3 February 2026, the Worldwide Well being Laws Nationwide Focal Level (IHR NFP) for Bangladesh notified WHO of 1 confirmed case of Nipah virus (NiV) an infection in Rajshahi Division,” the worldwide well being organisation stated in an announcement.
The announcement comes a few week after two circumstances had been confirmed in West Bengal state in jap India, as authorities work to comprise the deadly virus that they are saying stays largely underneath management.
An outbreak of the Nipah virus in India’s West Bengal has heightened issues in China and several other Southeast Asian nations, prompting tighter well being screening operations at airports, although the WHO stated it doesn’t advocate any journey or commerce restrictions based mostly on present info.
“WHO assesses the general public well being threat posed by NiV to be low on the nationwide, the regional and international stage,” an evaluation reads.
“The danger of worldwide illness unfold is taken into account low,” it stated.
The WHO stated that the affected person in Bangladesh, described as a feminine between the ages of 40 and 50 residing within the Naogaon district, first started experiencing fever and neurological signs on January 21. The affected person reported no journey historical past however had lately consumed uncooked date palm sap.
An extra 35 contact individuals have been examined for the virus, with no additional circumstances but detected.
About 348 Nipah virus circumstances have been reported in Bangladesh since 2001, about half of which occurred amongst individuals with a confirmed historical past of ingesting uncooked palm sap.
Outbreaks are inclined to happen on a seasonal foundation from the months of December by way of April, which the WHO says corresponds with the harvest and consumption of date palm sap.
There are at present no licensed medicines or vaccines particular for the an infection, and the fatality fee is reported to be excessive, between 40 p.c and 75 p.c, amongst individuals contaminated with the virus, in accordance with experiences.
In an announcement final week, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus known as Nipah a “uncommon however severe illness” that authorities are working to counter.
“Authorities have elevated illness surveillance and testing, applied prevention and management measures in well being care settings, and are retaining the general public knowledgeable about defend themselves,” Ghebreyesus stated.
