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Only 2 Nipah cases in Bengal, 196 contacts negative, says health ministry

Govt has reserve of monoclonal antibodies; these must be administered in the early stages of the disease

3 min readUpdated: Jan 28, 2026 07:22 AM IST

In this photograph provided by the public relations department of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Quarantine doctors watch thermal scanning of travelers from west Bengal, India at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakarn, Thailand, on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (Public relations department of Suvarnabhumi International Airport via AP)

Quarantine doctors watch thermal scanning of travelers from West Bengal at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakarn, Thailand, on Sunday, January 25, 2026. (Public relations department of Suvarnabhumi International Airport via AP)

AS AIRPORTS in Thailand, Taiwan and Nepal reintroduced Covid-style health checks following reports of Nipah cases in India, the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday clarified that only two cases had been reported in West Bengal since last December. All the contacts linked to them have tested negative.

“It has been observed that speculative and incorrect figures regarding Nipah Virus Disease (NiVD) cases are being circulated in certain sections of the media. In this context, it is clarified that, as per reports received from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), only two confirmed cases of Nipah Virus Disease have been reported from West Bengal from December last year till date,” the ministry note said, adding that the Centre, in close coordination with the West Bengal government, has initiated prompt and comprehensive public health measures in accordance with established protocols.

Also read | Why Asia is reintroducing Covid-style screening for travelers from this Indian state

The ministry said the public and media should “rely only on verified information released by official sources and refrain from spreading unverified or speculative reports”.

It further clarified that a total of 196 contacts linked to the confirmed cases had been identified, traced, monitored and tested. “All traced contacts have been found asymptomatic and have tested negative for Nipah Virus Disease. Enhanced surveillance, laboratory testing and field investigations were undertaken through coordinated efforts of Central and State health agencies, which ensured timely containment of the cases,” it said.

Explained

Promising treatment

In latest research, monoclonal antibodies have emerged as a promising treatment for Nipah infection, designed to block the virus from entering host cells by targeting its F protein (fusion protein) or G protein (glycoprotein), with certain candidates like MBP1F5 and m102.4 showing success in preclinical models, including preventing lethal infections in non-human primates. However, ongoing research and human trials are needed for widespread availability.

Nipah is a viral infection that mainly affects animals such as bats, pigs, dogs and horses, but can infect humans who come in contact with the infected animals. It can be transmitted through food items such as fruits or date palm sap which have been contaminated with bodily fluids of an infected animal, usually bats. Nipah usually presents as fever and swelling of the brain and can prove fatal. However, the disease is not as transmissible as Covid-19 or influenza and is unlikely to cause a huge number of infections in a short time.

As for preparedness, the government has a modest reserve of monoclonal antibodies that it had imported from Australia during the Nipah outbreak in Kerala last year. Though the monoclonal antibody hasn’t gone through human trials to prove effectiveness against Nipah, the government has allowed its use on compassionate grounds. There is no effective treatment available for the disease which kills 40% to 75% of those infected.

An infected person has to be administered two doses of monoclonal antibodies. It has to be done in the early stages of the disease as it does not work once a person already has brain swelling called encephalitis.

Anonna Dutt

Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country’s space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University’s Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor’s Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More