The virus spreads from animals to humans, via person-to-person contact or through consuming contaminated food.
An outbreak of the Nipah virus in India’s eastern state of West Bengal has heightened concerns in China and several Southeast Asian countries, prompting them to tighten health screening operations at airports as millions prepare to travel for the Lunar New Year holiday.
Since December 2025, two confirmed cases of the virus have been reported in West Bengal, India’s health ministry said on Wednesday.
The ministry did not provide details about the people infected but noted that of a total of 196 contacts linked to the confirmed cases, “all traced contacts have been found asymptomatic and have tested negative”, for the virus.
“The situation is under constant monitoring, and all necessary public health measures are in place,” the ministry added.
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Article URL : https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/29/why-is-indias-nipah-virus-outbreak-spooking-the-world