All stories have a beginning, even viral infections like the coronavirus pandemic and, more recently, the tragic fatalities caused by the Nipah virus. They named it after the village where it was first discovered — the Nipah virus. It is not actually a fox that flies but a bat in the family Pteropodidae, which is the natural host of the Nipah virus. Diagnosis of Nipah virus infection requires a high degree of suspicion on the part of the healthcare provider. The Nipah virus has been detected in several of the world’s most densely populated areas where there is increased proximity and interaction between humans and their environment.

Source: The Telegraph February 18, 2026 03:35 UTC