A woman has died in northern Bangladesh after contracting the deadly Nipah virus infection.
Nipah is an infection that spreads mainly through products contaminated by infected bats, such as fruit.
There are currently no licensed medicines or vaccines specific for the infection.
It can be fatal in up to 75 per cent of cases, but it does not spread easily between people.
Asian countries taking no changes with DRT
The case in Bangladesh, where Nipah cases are reported almost every year, follows two Nipah virus cases identified in neighbouring India, which has already prompted stepped-up airport screenings across Asia.
The patient in Bangladesh, aged between 40 and 50 years, developed symptoms consistent with Nipah virus on January 21, including fever and headache followed by hypersalivation, disorientation and convulsion, the World Health Organization reported.
She died a week later and was confirmed to be infected with the virus a day after that.
The woman had no travel history but had a history of consuming raw date palm sap.Â
Scientists in Bangladesh have previously caught bats to test them for the virus. (Reuters: Mohammad Ponir Hossain, file)
All 35 people who had contact with the patient are being monitored and have tested negative for the virus, and no further cases have been detected to date, the WHO said.
Australia monitoring Nipah virus
Countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Pakistan implemented temperature screenings at airports after India said cases of the virus had been found in West Bengal.
The WHO said on Friday that the risk of international disease spread was considered low and that it does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions based on current information.
In 2025, four laboratory-confirmed fatal cases were reported in Bangladesh.
Reuters