UK Health Security Agency bosses have designated the Nipah virus as a “high priority pathogen” due to its high fatality rate and lack of proven treatment for the illness
20:43, 28 Jan 2026Updated 22:00, 28 Jan 2026
As many as 75 per cent of those infected with the virus could die(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Health chiefs have warned people to be aware of Nipah virus symptoms amid doctors’ fears 75 per cent of those infected could die.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA )has designated a “high priority pathogen” due to its high fatality rate and lack of proven treatment for the virus. Two cases have been confirmed by the federal health ministry in Indian state of West Bengal, sparking a mass quarantine operation that saw some 200 people who came into contact with infected patients being locked down, local officials said.
Several Asian countries have enforced tightened health screenings and airport surveillance for anyone arriving from India. Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert at the University of East Anglia, said detecting Nipah at borders can be difficult due to the length of time it can take for symptoms to develop.
Cases of Nipah virus were found in West Bengal state in India(Image: DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
READ MORE: Extremely contagious disease is making a major UK comeback – see cases in your areaREAD MORE: Scientists’ verdict on whether horror deadly Nipah virus outbreak could spark pandemicNipah virus symptoms
The Nipah virus can be deadly in many cases (Image: BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Sudden onset of non-specific flu-like illness or feverPneumonia and other respiratory problems may also developInflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or meningitis
Symptoms typically show between four to 21 days, though longer periods have occasionally been observed. The more serious complication of brain inflammation or meningitis develops three to 21 days after the illness begins.
The UKHSA warned between 40 and 75 per cent of those infected with the Nipah virus will die. Some survivors may be left with lasting neurological differences, including persistent seizures and personality changes.
In rare cases, the virus can reactivate months or even years after the initial infection.
How is Nipah virus transmitted?
Health workers have treated at least two people who were found to have been infected with the virus(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Many infections result from the consumption of fruit or fruit products that are contaminated with the faeces, urine or saliva of infected fruit bats. Person to person spread is possible should they be in close proximity with an infected person or their body fluids.
It has been documented in India and Bangladesh and infected people typically include family members and close associates who are caring for infected people. Unfortunately, there is no proven specific treatment for Nipah virus infection, and no preventative vaccine is licensed to use.
Professor Hunter said: “Although Nipah is a very serious infection, it is unlikely to pose a significant risk of global spread as the risk of person-to-person transmission is low. The R0 (the number of people that one infected person will pass on a virus to) is less than 1.0. Nevertheless, we cannot be complacent as we have seen recently, some viruses can mutate to increased infectivity. Also the long incubation period makes detection at borders very difficult.”
No cases of the Nipah virus have been detected in the UK.