Deadly Nipah strikes again: Woman dies in Bangladesh as WHO confirms fresh case

The deceased was a woman aged between 40 and 50 years who lived in Naogaon District in the Rajshahi Division.

According to the WHO, she developed symptoms consistent with Nipah virus infection on January 21, including fever, headache, muscle cramps, loss of appetite (anorexia), weakness and vomiting. Her condition later worsened, with hypersalivation, disorientation and convulsions.

“On 27 January, she became unconscious and was referred by a local physician to a tertiary hospital,” the WHO said. She was admitted with suspected Nipah infection, and samples including throat swabs and blood were collected by the surveillance team. She died the same day.

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The WHO said the patient had reported repeatedly consuming raw date palm sap between January 5 and 20, 2026 — a known risk factor for Nipah transmission in Bangladesh.

Following laboratory confirmation, an outbreak investigation team, including One Health stakeholders, launched a probe on January 30.

“A total of 35 contact persons has been identified, including three household contacts, 14 community contacts and 18 hospital contacts. Samples were collected from six symptomatic contact persons, including three from household, two from communities and one from hospital,” the WHO said.

The fatality was reported just days after the neighbouring Indian state of West Bengal confirmed two Nipah cases, raising regional concerns and prompting heightened screening measures at airports in parts of South and Southeast Asia.

Nipah in Bangladesh

Bangladesh reported its first Nipah case in 2001, and human infections have since been recorded almost every year. In 2025, four laboratory-confirmed fatal cases were reported in the country.

Nipah virus is a zoonotic pathogen with a high fatality rate and no licensed vaccine or specific antiviral treatment, although early supportive care can improve survival chances.

Fruit bats, also known as flying foxes (Pteropus genus), are the natural reservoirs of the virus. These bats are widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia, parts of the Indian Ocean region and Oceania.

The virus can spread to humans from infected animals, including through consumption of contaminated date palm sap. Human-to-human transmission has also been documented.

Since its first identification in 1998, Nipah outbreaks have been reported in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore.

In Bangladesh, cases occur throughout the year but outbreaks are more common between December and April, coinciding with the harvesting and consumption of date palm sap. Clusters are mainly reported in the central and northwestern districts.

Since 2001, Bangladesh has documented 348 Nipah cases, including 250 deaths — an overall case fatality rate of 72 per cent.