Nipah Virus Death In West Bengal LIVE Updates: Nurse Who Recovered From Nipah Virus Dies Of Cardiac Arrest, State On High Alert | Highlights

Nipah Virus Outbreak In 2026: As health authorities remain on alert following fresh Nipah virus concerns in parts of South Asia, medical experts are urging the public to stay informed and cautious rather than alarmed. Nipah virus is a rare but deadly zoonotic infection that targets the brain, often presenting as viral encephalitis with symptoms ranging from fever and headache to seizures, coma, and long-term neurological damage. In India, past outbreaks have largely been reported from Kerala and parts of West Bengal, while Bangladesh and several Southeast Asian countries continue to record periodic cases, making early detection and prevention critical. In an exclusive interaction with TheHealthSite.com, Dr. Mahendra J V, HOD and Consultant, Department of Neurology, Ramaiah Institute of Neurosciences, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, explains how the virus spreads, the warning signs people should not ignore, and why strict isolation and preventive measures remain the strongest defense against this high-fatality infection.

This was the first death of a Nipah patient in West Bengal since 2007, when an outbreak of the virus took place in the state, the health official was quoted as saying. This is the seventh documented Nipah outbreak in India and the third in West Bengal, following outbreaks in Siliguri in 2001 and Nadia in 2007. The last reported outbreak of the disease in the country was in Kerala in August.

The Nipah virus (NiV) has a high case fatality rate, estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be between 40% and 75%. However, this rate can be higher depending on the outbreak, with some, such as in Bangladesh, reported to have mortality rates ranging from 25% to 100% in specific, smaller events. 

“Out of the two Nipah positive cases reported from West Bengal on 11th January, 2026, one of the nurses who was critically ill and was under intensive medical care passed away today due to cardiac arrest in the hospital where she was under treatment,” said officials of the health department.

The virus, which spreads from animals to humans, has an estimated fatality rate of 40 per cent to 75 per cent, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 

It can cause illnesses ranging from respiratory distress to brain inflammation, and has no vaccine. 

A 25-year-old nurse who had recovered from Nipah virus infection died of cardiac arrest on Thursday at a private hospital at Barasat in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, a state health department official said.

The deceased was one of two nursing staff members who had tested positive for Nipah since December. While she had recently tested negative for the virus, she remained critically ill and had been under treatment for several weeks.