A researcher captures a bat to collect Nipah virus samples in Shuvarampur, Faridpur Province, Bangladesh. Photo: ReutersThe ministry said the Nipah virus is classified as a Group A infectious disease, capable of spreading from animals to humans or through contaminated objects and food. The latest Nipah outbreak in India has forced hundreds of people into isolation and prompted countries across the region to raise alert levels. “The most alarming feature of the Nipah virus is its extremely high fatality rate,” Phu said. First identified during an outbreak in Malaysia in 1998-99, the virus has since appeared sporadically in South and Southeast Asia.

Source: Tuoitre News January 27, 2026 09:52 UTC