Outbreak of deadly virus with no cure and ‘epidemic potential’ reported in India as officials issue severe warning

Health authorities in India are working urgently to control an outbreak of the Nipah virus, a very dangerous illness that has no approved vaccine or cure.

At least five confirmed cases have been reported in the eastern state of West Bengal, one of India’s most densely populated regions. All the infections are linked to the same private hospital. Those infected include three nurses, one doctor, and another hospital staff member.

According to the West Bengal health department, one of the patients is in critical condition. Doctors and disease experts are still trying to understand exactly how the virus spread between these five people.

Reports suggest that the first nurse to fall ill may have caught the virus while caring for a patient who had serious breathing problems. That patient later died before tests could confirm what illness they had, raising fears that Nipah was already spreading inside the hospital.

Nearly 100 people who were in close contact with the infected staff have now been quarantined and placed under medical observation. Health officials say all of them currently show no symptoms and have tested negative so far. However, they will be tested again before their 21-day quarantine period ends, as symptoms can take time to appear.

Nipah virus is extremely serious. It spreads easily, can be deadly, and there is no cure. Because of this, the World Health Organization considers it a high-risk virus with the potential to cause large outbreaks. It is listed among the world’s most dangerous emerging diseases, and health experts have warned that urgent research is needed to develop treatments and vaccines.

So far, there have been no reported cases of Nipah virus in the UK. Even so, the UK Health Security Agency is closely watching the situation in India in case it develops further.

The virus usually spreads from animals to humans. People can become infected through contact with infected animals, by eating contaminated food, or through direct contact with another infected person. Close, unprotected contact with someone who has breathing symptoms is considered especially risky.

Early symptoms often look like the flu or a fever. People may develop a high temperature, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting, and a sore throat. As the illness worsens, it can affect the brain, causing dizziness, confusion, extreme drowsiness, and other neurological problems. Some patients also develop severe lung infections and breathing failure.

In serious cases, the virus can cause inflammation of the brain, known as encephalitis. This can lead to seizures and, in some cases, push a patient into a coma within one or two days. Health experts estimate that between 40 and 75 percent of Nipah infections end in death, making it one of the most lethal viruses known.

Nipah virus was first identified in 1999 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia. It is believed that the virus spread to humans through contact with infected pigs or their bodily fluids. Since then, bats—especially fruit bats—have been linked to many outbreaks.

The virus appeared in Bangladesh in 2001 and has caused almost yearly outbreaks there since. Traces of Nipah have also been found in bats in several countries, including Cambodia, Ghana, Indonesia, Madagascar, the Philippines, and Thailand. In India, past outbreaks have been linked to infected fruit bats contaminating food.

India’s health ministry has urged the public to take basic safety measures to reduce the risk of infection. People are advised to wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, wash their hands regularly with soap and water, and wear protective clothing when handling animals.

The government has also warned people not to eat fruits that appear partially eaten or contaminated, especially those found on the ground. Drinking raw date palm juice or liquids left uncovered outdoors is also strongly discouraged, as these can be contaminated by bats.

Health officials say vigilance and hygiene are critical right now, as early detection and prevention are the only tools available to slow the spread of this deadly virus.