Several Asian countries, including Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, have heightened surveillance and screening measures following a Nipah virus outbreak in India, where at least two deaths were reported in the state of West Bengal.
Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus belonging to the henipavirus family, meaning it can spread from animals to humans. First identified during an outbreak in Malaysia in 1998, the virus is known for its high fatality rate, estimated between 40% and 75% in severe cases.
How Nipah Virus Spreads
Health experts note three main transmission routes:
- Animal-to-human exposure, particularly through contact with bodily fluids of infected fruit bats or animals such as pigs
- Contaminated food, especially raw date palm sap exposed to bats
- Limited human-to-human transmission, usually through close contact when caring for infected individuals
- Symptoms and Health Risks
Symptoms typically appear 4 days to 3 weeks after exposure and may range from fever and respiratory distress to severe neurological complications. In serious cases, Nipah virus can cause encephalitis (brain inflammation), which contributes to its high mortality rate. Some survivors have also experienced relapsed encephalitis years later.
Is there a Treatment or Vaccine?
Currently, there is no approved vaccine or treatment for Nipah virus. A monoclonal antibody treatment known as m102.4 is under development in Australia and has shown promise in early-stage clinical trials, but it is not yet available for widespread use.
How Concerned Should We Be?
While the outbreak is taken seriously due to the virus’s severity, experts stress that Nipah does not spread easily between humans, making it unlikely to cause a global outbreak on the scale of COVID-19. For individuals outside affected regions, the risk remains low. Health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.
People who develop fever or illness after travelling to affected areas are advised to inform their healthcare provider of their travel history.
Source:
Adapted from reporting by The Conversation, with expert insights from Prof. Allen Cheng, Professor of Infectious Diseases, Monash University.
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Reviewed by: Dr Cheryl Yeo
Bio: Dr Cheryl Yeo is the founder of iAM Health. She has a PhD in food science and nutrition, dedicating more than a decade to research on metabolic disorders and weight management, functional food ingredients, and the science behind metabolism-focused supplements and microbiome-driven health therapies. Her work deepened her understanding of how targeted nutrition, including probiotics and digestive support, can influence long-term wellbeing.
Connect with Dr Cheryl Yeo: cheryl@iamhealth.sg