Nipah Virus Outbreak in India: 5 Healthcare Workers Infected, Nearly 100 Isolated

India is facing renewed concerns over a Nipah virus outbreak, after five healthcare workers were confirmed infected and nearly 100 close contacts were placed under isolation to prevent further spread. The Nipah virus remains primarily confined to South and Southeast Asia and is known for its high fatality rate of up to 75%, with no approved vaccine or specific treatment currently available. The recent infections among medical staff have raised concerns over hospital-acquired transmission. Indian health authorities stated that the virus can spread through contaminated food and human-to-human contact. Emergency isolation and contact tracing measures have been implemented to contain the outbreak. According to the latest updates, the first infected female nurse remains in critical condition and is currently unconscious, while a male nurse has shown improvement and no longer requires ventilator support. Data indicate that since 2001, India has experienced multiple Nipah outbreaks. As of May 2024, a total of 754 human cases have been reported across five countries — Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore — resulting in 435 deaths.

Five Healthcare Workers Infected at One Hospital

Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease transmitted by fruit bats, capable of infecting humans and animals. In 1998, outbreaks in Malaysia and Singapore resulted in more than 100 infections and deaths. In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified Nipah virus as a priority pathogen requiring accelerated research.

The current outbreak originated in Kolkata, West Bengal, where two nurses at a private hospital developed fever and respiratory symptoms between December 31 and January 2 after treating a patient with severe respiratory illness. They were confirmed positive on January 12.

Shortly thereafter, three additional healthcare workers — including a doctor, a nurse, and a sanitation worker — were infected. The doctor is believed to have contracted the virus while caring for the critically ill nurse.

Epidemiological investigations revealed that the female nurse attended a family wedding in mid-December. Authorities are still investigating the source of infection.

The Cleveland Clinic warned that Nipah virus can spread through saliva, urine, blood, feces, and other bodily fluids, posing risks to caregivers without adequate protection.

India’s Ministry of Health has issued nationwide alerts to strengthen surveillance and testing. Although all tested contacts have so far returned negative results, experts caution that the incubation period typically ranges from 4 to 14 days, and in rare cases up to 45 days, requiring continued monitoring even after a 21-day isolation period.