After Two Nipah Cases in India, WHO Sees Low Global Risk as Vaccine Work Advances

Overview

• India notified the WHO of two laboratory-confirmed Nipah infections in West Bengal health workers, with one patient improving and the other in critical care.
• More than 190 traced contacts tested negative, and authorities have found no evidence of community transmission to date.
• The WHO rates the event moderate at the subnational level and low at national, regional and global levels, and it advises no travel or trade restrictions.
• Nipah lacks approved vaccines or antivirals, and a measles‑vector candidate from the University of Tokyo will begin a 60‑volunteer phase 1 safety trial in Belgium in April.
• An Oxford‑linked vaccine entered phase 2 testing in Bangladesh in December, as countries such as Brazil maintain low‑risk assessments and continuous monitoring through institutions including Fiocruz and Instituto Evandro Chagas.