Nipah Virus (NIV) – Q&A

What is Nipah Virus?

• It is a zoonotic virus transmitted by fruit bats indirectly to human through contamination.
• It causes encephalitis like condition where there is severe brain inflammation.

How does Nipah Virus spread?

• Contaminated food: When humans consume raw (not boiled) date palm sap or fruits bitten by bats.
• Animal contact: If human consume bats and infected pig meat.
• Human-to-human: Saliva, urine, respiratory droplets, close contact.

Is Nipah Virus airborne?

• Not airborne like flu, but may contaminate in close contact
• Spreads via droplets/aerosols in close contact, especially in closed indoors

What are the first symptoms?

• Weakness, headache, feverish or high fever, muscle cramp, nausea.
• Usually appears within 4-14 days post exposure.

How dangerous is Nipah Virus?

• Mortality rate: High mortality rate at 40%-70%
• Can cause seizures, coma within 24–48 hours.
• Can be life threatening

Are there long-term effects?

• Continued fatigue, some neurological problems, change in personality.
• In some rare cases relapses after a year

Is there a cure or vaccine?

• No approved vaccine or antiviral treatment (as of 2026).
• Treatment is symptomatic through medicines.
• Only supportive care: hydration, ICU, ventilator, seizure management.

How to protect yourself?

• Strictly avoid consuming raw date palm sap.
• Wash/peel fruits thoroughly, if required use approved cleaning agents for fruits or mild soap and rinse well and dry it with clean cloth.
• Hand hygiene is important, wash hands before eating, touching things at home.
• Avoid contact or consumption of sick pigs.
• Use N95 masks near infected persons.
• Cook food, meat well at boiling temperature of (100°C or 212°F) for more than 15-20 minutes. The virus can survive or becomes dormant but do not become inactive at lower temperatures or shorter time. The virus can survive lower temperatures like 70°C (158°F) even for 1 hour with only concentration decreasing.

Nipah Virus in outbreak in India in 2026.

Where is the latest outbreak?

• West Bengal, January 2026.
• Detected after 19 years in eastern India.
• Detection was quick and response was efficient

Who is affected?

• Two nurses in Barasat, North 24 Parganas.
• Both in critical condition, linked to Purba Bardhaman travel.

Which districts are under surveillance?

• Barasat (North 24 Parganas).
• Purba Bardhaman.
• Nadia district.
• There is active process to stop the spread of virus and spread awareness

What is the government response?

• Union Health Ministry deployed NJORT (National Joint Outbreak Response Team).
• NIV Pune & NCDC experts assisting.
• Neighbouring states (Jharkhand) on high alert.

What is the historical context?

• Past outbreaks: Siliguri (2001), Nadia (2007), Kerala (2025).
• 2026 marks return to eastern India.

Public Safety Measures

• Strictly avoid consuming raw date palm sap.
• Wash/peel fruits well before consuming (use proper fruit cleaners or soap)
• Frequent and through washing hand especially before consuming food with soap and water.
• Avoid closed not well-ventilated places.
• Use PPE (N95 masks, gloves).
• Follow medical advice by doctors, healthcare and Government.

Protecting Children & Elders

• Keep them away from bat roosts, sick pigs.
• Wash fruits thoroughly before consumption.
• Take care of hand hygiene.
• Use PPE when caregiving.

Medical Diagnosis

• RT-PCR: Early detection (swabs, blood, CSF).
• ELISA: Antibody detection in recovery phase.
• Requires BSL-4 labs