Nipah virus outbreaks in south Asia

On Jan 10, 2026, two nurses (one female, one male) working at Narayana Hospital Barasat in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, were hospitalised with fever and rapidly progressive encephalopathy, and received ventilation due to neuro-respiratory deterioration. Concerns were raised due to the shared workplace of the patients plus the timing of the events, and biological samples were taken for testing. Within 24 h, Nipah virus RNA was detected and confirmed in both patients, leading to immediate government communication, containment measures, and contact tracing.