Friday, January 30, 2026-UK health authorities have issued a fresh warning about the deadly Nipah virus after two confirmed cases were reported in West Bengal, India, prompting heightened public health vigilance.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) stressed that while the overall risk to people in the UK remains very low, travellers to affected regions should be aware of the virus, its symptoms, and modes of transmission. Nipah has a high fatality rate estimated between **40 % and 75 %—and can spread from animals to humans or between people through close contact or contaminated food.
In response to the Indian cases, several Asian countries have tightened screening and surveillance at airports and other points of entry to reduce the risk of international spread. Pakistan, Thailand, Singapore, and others have introduced thermal scanning and health checks for travellers arriving from or transiting through high‑risk areas, underlining the global concern about Nipah despite no confirmed cases outside India so far.
Health authorities, including the World Health Organization, continue to monitor the situation closely, though the WHO currently assesses the risk of global spread as low.
Symptoms typically begin with flu‑like signs such as fever, headache, and muscle pain, which can escalate to severe respiratory problems, encephalitis, and neurological complications within days of infection. With no approved vaccine or specific cure available, early detection and supportive care remain crucial.
UKHSA is urging people especially those who have recently travelled to affected regions to seek immediate medical advice if they develop symptoms and mention their travel history, helping health services respond swiftly and reduce the risk of onward transmission.
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