WHO says fatal case of Nipah virus confirmed in Bangladesh

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a confirmed fatal case of Nipah virus in Bangladesh on February 7, 2026. The patient, a woman between 40 and 50 years old from the Naogaon district, was admitted to a hospital on January 28 after experiencing fever and neurological symptoms, and later died. She had consumed raw date palm sap, a known source of Nipah virus transmission. This announcement follows confirmed cases in West Bengal, India, raising concerns in neighboring countries. Despite these cases, the WHO assesses the overall public health risk posed by Nipah virus to be low at the national, regional, and global level, with the risk of international disease spread considered low.

The World Health Organization reported a fatal Nipah virus case in northern Bangladesh in January, involving a woman aged 40-50 who consumed raw date palm sap. She developed symptoms on January 21st and died a week later, with confirmation of Nipah virus infection following her death. All 35 contacts tested negative, and no further cases have been detected. Nipah virus, spread mainly through contaminated bat products, can be fatal but doesn't easily spread between people. This case follows Nipah cases in India, prompting airport screenings in several Asian countries. While the WHO considers the international spread risk low, there are currently no specific treatments or vaccines for Nipah virus.