According to information from the WHO, the woman had not traveled outside the country. However, she consumed raw date palm sap, which is considered one of the main routes of transmission for the Nipah virus in this region. It is important to note that all 35 people who had contact with the infected individual are under medical observation, but no new cases of infection have been registered at this time.
The death in Bangladesh occurred against the backdrop of reports of two cases of Nipah virus infection in India, leading to increased sanitary measures and controls at airports in several Asian countries.
The Nipah virus is among the most dangerous pathogens, as there is currently no effective vaccine or specific treatment, and the mortality rate can reach 75%. Those who recover from the disease may experience serious neurological complications.
The first cases of the virus were recorded in late December 2025 in the Indian state of West Bengal, where two employees of a private clinic fell ill. As a result, authorities isolated nearly two hundred people who had contact with them.
The virus is transmitted from flying foxes, as well as through contact with infected individuals. There is a risk of infection even through saliva or droplets when coughing.
The problem lies in the lack of effective treatment or vaccine. The mortality rate varies from 40% to 75%, depending on the form of the disease and the quality of medical care.
In India, the Nipah virus has been observed for the seventh time, and in West Bengal, for the third time since 2021. The WHO also confirms that outbreaks of the virus have been registered in the southern state of Kerala.
Many countries in the region are implementing new safety measures.
Although the Nipah virus does not pose a global threat, scientists warn of potential new risks.
The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlight two potentially dangerous viruses that could trigger an epidemic:
- Influenza D virus, found in animals and among agricultural workers.
- Dog coronavirus HuPn-2018, first identified in Malaysia in a child with pneumonia, and subsequently in Thailand, Vietnam, Haiti, and the USA.
