Reported in January 2026, the circulation of the Nipah virus in India should not unduly worry Europeans, assures the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), an agency of the European Union. It maintains that the risk of transmission for people wishing to travel to the Asian country is " very low“.
The virus was detected in two nurses, a man and a woman, working at the same hospital in the Indian state of West Bengal. An investigation is still underway to identify the source of the infection. The AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) in Kalyani, which went to the hospital to conduct the investigation, explained at the time that The Nipah virus is a highly lethal infectious disease, but its ability to spread is limited.“.
And the ECDC seems to confirm this trend. In a press release Published on January 29, 2026, the agency is reassuring and notes that " The limited number of cases and their apparent link to a single healthcare facility suggest that there is no community transmission at this stage.“.
196 contact cases tested negative for the infection
Nipah virus is an RNA virus of the genus Henipavirus. It is considered "zoonotic": it is transmitted from animals to humans, but human-to-human transmission is then possible. Infection can be asymptomatic. Otherwise, initial symptoms include fever, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting, and sore throat. the World Health OrganizationNext, the patient may experience dizziness, drowsiness, and an altered state of consciousness. Some people may also experience serious breathing problems.
“ In severe cases, encephalitis and seizures are observed, progressing to coma within 24 to 48 hours."The WHO specifies that among encephalitis survivors, 201% of patients experience neurological sequelae (personality changes, extreme fatigue, seizures). In cases of infection, this disease is serious: the case fatality rate is between 401% and 751%, depending on the viral strain involved and the care provided to the patient."
The results obtained so far by the Indian authorities are reassuring. They reveal that of the 196 people who had been in contact with the infected man and woman, all are symptomatic and have tested negative for Nipah virus infection. Meanwhile, Asian countries have taken precautions to limit the spread of the virus, including screening passengers arriving from India at airports.
Read alsoNipah: What is this virus that is worrying India?
An introduction in Europe is unlikely
Regarding the spread of the virus beyond Asian countries, the risk to the Old Continent is minimal. The most likely route of introduction of the Nipah virus into Europe would be through infected travelers. ECDC notes. Although the importation of the virus cannot be ruled out, it is considered unlikely."The virus also has little chance of reaching Europe because its natural reservoir is bats, which are not found on the continent but rather in southern Asia, countries bordering the Indian Ocean and Oceania.
For Europeans who would like to travel to India, there again " the risk of infection " East " considered very weakThe health agency, however, lists some precautions to take for people who wish to travel, particularly to West Bengal. For example, avoid contact with domestic or wild animals and their fluids (urine, blood, etc.) and excrement. Indeed, the virus is highly contagious among pigs. Horses, goats, sheep, cats, and dogs can also be susceptible.
Since bats, the reservoirs of the virus, are fruit-eating, no risks should be taken with food that can also lead to infection. Therefore, food that may have been touched by small mammals should not be consumed, and date palm sap should not be drunk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that it is also " It is recommended to wash, peel and cook fruits and vegetables before consuming them in order to reduce the risk of exposure.“.
There is no treatment or vaccine to cure Nipah virus once infection has developed. While the risk is low, precautions must still be strictly followed.
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