Bangladesh has reported one death from Nipah virus infection in a woman who had no history of international travel, while the WHO confirms that the risk of an outbreak remains low.
Foreign news agencies reported that on 6 Feb 2026, the World Health Organization announced that a woman in northern Bangladesh died after contracting the Nipah virus in January.
The news of this woman’s death follows reports of two Nipah virus cases in neighboring India, raising concerns about an outbreak and prompting several Asian airports to enhance screening measures.
The WHO added that the patient in Bangladesh was aged between 40 and 50 years. She began showing symptoms consistent with Nipah virus infection on 21 January, including high fever and headache, followed by excessive salivation, confusion, and seizures.
She died a week later, and one day afterward, officials confirmed she had contracted the Nipah virus.
The WHO stated that the infected woman had no history of international travel. Thirty-five people who had close contact with her are under surveillance, all testing negative to date, and no additional infections have been reported so far.
Nipah is a virus primarily transmitted through products contaminated by infected bats, such as fruit. The virus can cause death in up to 75% of cases but does not easily spread from person to person.
Bangladesh has reported nearly annual cases of Nipah virus, with four deaths in 2025. The most recent deceased woman reportedly consumed fresh sap from date palm trees, which carries a high risk of contamination by secretions from fruit bats, although it is not confirmed that this caused her infection.
Several countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Pakistan, have begun airport temperature screenings after India reported Nipah virus cases in the state of West Bengal.
However, the WHO reassures that the international risk of a widespread outbreak remains low and does not currently recommend any travel or trade restrictions based on available information.
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Source:cna