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WHO Rates Nipah Risk Low After Two Cases Confirmed in West Bengal

The agency backs local containment over border curbs following two infections among health workers.

Overview

  • India notified WHO on January 26 of two confirmed Nipah infections in North 24 Parganas, with one patient reported in serious condition.
  • WHO assesses the risk as moderate at the subnational level and low nationally, regionally and globally, so travel restrictions are not recommended.
  • Roughly 190–196 contacts are under monitoring and no additional infections have been detected so far, according to officials.
  • Several neighbors, including Thailand, Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Indonesia, have tightened airport screening with thermal checks and health forms.
  • Nipah is a high-fatality zoonotic virus with no approved vaccine or specific treatment, and limited person-to-person transmission remains under investigation in a possible hospital setting.