Pharmacy Times Bangladesh reports fatal Nipah case linked to raw date palm sap; experts say spread stays limited as vaccines and rapid tests advance.
On February 3, 2026, Bangladesh’s International Health Regulations National Focal Point notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of a confirmed case of Nipah virus infection in Rajshahi Division, northwestern Bangladesh. This follows 2 confirmed Nipah virus infections in India on January 26, 2026.1,2 The most recent case of the zoonotic pathogen carried by fruit bats involved a woman aged 40 to 50 years from the Naogaon District that was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing on January 29, 2026. Initial symptoms were reported on January 21, including fever, headache, muscle cramps, anorexia, weakness, and vomiting, which progressed to hypersalivation, disorientation, and convulsions. After becoming unconscious on January 27, she was referred to a tertiary hospital, where she was admitted on January 28. Unfortunately, the patient died the same day after surveillance samples were collected, according to a statement released by the WHO.1
Although the cause of infection has not been confirmed, the patient reported continued consumption of raw date palm sap between January 5 and 20, 2026, which could be a contributing factor.1