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Bangladesh reports fatal Nipah virus case weeks after first detection in India

By The South Asia Times

DHAKA - Bangladesh has confirmed a fatal case of Nipah virus infection in the northwestern Rajshahi Division, weeks after the virus was first detected in neighboring India last month, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The patient, a woman aged between 40 and 50 from Naogaon district, developed symptoms on January 21, including fever and neurological complications. Laboratory tests confirmed the infection on January 29, and she died the same day after being admitted to a tertiary hospital.

Health authorities said the patient had no recent travel history but reported repeatedly consuming raw date palm sap, a known risk factor for Nipah virus transmission. Investigators identified 35 contacts, all of whom have tested negative so far, with no additional cases detected.

The Ministry of Health launched an outbreak investigation, initiated contact tracing, and is expanding community awareness campaigns in Nipah-endemic areas. WHO is closely monitoring the situation and assesses the overall public health risk at national, regional, and global levels as low, with minimal risk of international spread.

Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease primarily carried by fruit bats and can spread through contaminated food or close human contact. The infection can cause severe respiratory illness and brain inflammation, with fatality rates historically ranging from 40% to 75%. There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

Bangladesh has recorded Nipah cases almost annually since 2001, typically during the date palm harvesting season between December and April. Despite the virus’s high mortality rate, strong surveillance systems and rapid response teams have helped limit outbreaks in recent years.