DHAKA / RAJSHAHI — Health authorities in Bangladesh have confirmed the first recorded death of 2026 from the deadly Nipah virus, as the World Health Organization (WHO) raised awareness of the disease that regularly re-emerges in the country. The fatality — a woman in her 40s from the Naogaon district of Rajshahi Division — underscores public health challenges during the region’s seasonal outbreaks and comes amid recent cases reported in neighbouring India’s West Bengal state.
Woman’s Fatal Infection in Rajshahi Division
According to official data released by Bangladesh’s Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) and the WHO, the woman developed symptoms consistent with Nipah virus infection on January 21, including fever, headache, hypersalivation, disorientation and convulsions. She was admitted to a tertiary hospital on January 28, the same day she died, and subsequent laboratory testing confirmed the infection.
Health officials reported that she had no travel history, but did have a pattern of consuming raw date palm sap — a known high-risk exposure linked to the virus in Bangladesh. An outbreak investigation team identified 35 close contacts, all of whom have so far tested negative for the virus and are under ongoing surveillance.
Disease Profile: Nipah Virus and Transmission Risk
Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic pathogen — meaning it can be transmitted from mammals such as fruit bats (Pteropus spp.) to humans — with a historical case fatality rate ranging from about 40 per cent to 75 per cent in previous outbreaks. There are no licensed vaccines or specific antiviral treatments for Nipah infection, though supportive medical care may improve outcomes.
Transmission pathways include direct contact with infected animals, consumption of contaminated food products such as raw date palm sap, and, in some situations, human-to-human transmission, particularly among close contacts or in healthcare settings.
Seasonal Pattern and Regional History
Bangladesh lies within a region sometimes referred to as the “Nipah belt”, where sporadic outbreaks occur almost annually, typically between December and April, coinciding with date palm harvesting and the increased consumption of sap — a risk factor repeatedly documented in outbreak investigations.
Since NiV was first identified in 1998, Bangladesh has reported numerous infections across the northwestern and central districts, with hundreds of cases and several hundred deaths over the last two decades. Past documented outbreaks included repeated transmission linked to contaminated food sources and occasional direct human spread.
Public Health Monitoring and Response
The WHO’s Disease Outbreak News bulletin on the incident emphasises that, at present, there is no evidence of widespread community transmission in Bangladesh following the confirmed case, and the overall risk — nationally, regionally and globally — is assessed as low. The organisation does not recommend travel or trade restrictions at this time.
Bangladesh’s Ministry of Health has activated targeted surveillance and response efforts, including monitoring close contacts of the patient, disseminating public health guidance, and bolstering infection control precautions in clinical settings.
India’s Recent Nipah Activity and Cross-Border Vigilance
The announcement of the Bangladesh death comes shortly after two confirmed Nipah cases in West Bengal, India, which has prompted heightened screening measures at some Asian airports and reinforced regional public health preparedness. Authorities in both countries continue to track cases and reinforce laboratory diagnostics and outbreak response capacities.
Balancing Public Concern and Scientific Understanding
Despite the high mortality associated with past Nipah virus infections, epidemiologists stress that the virus remains rare and does not typically spread easily among humans outside close, prolonged contact. The majority of outbreaks in Bangladesh have been linked to direct contact with infected bats or contaminated food rather than sustained human chains of transmission.
Public health agencies continue to urge simple but effective precautions — such as avoiding consumption of raw date palm sap, practising good hygiene, and seeking prompt medical attention for fever and neurological symptoms during peak outbreak seasons — as part of broader surveillance and prevention strategies.
Looking Ahead: Preparedness and Research
As the region continues to monitor Nipah virus activity, researchers and global health authorities are advancing surveillance, diagnostic tools, and candidate vaccines, though licensed medical preventatives remain in development. Ongoing collaboration between South Asian health ministries, the WHO and international partners aims to strengthen early detection and outbreak control, particularly in countries with historical exposure to the virus.
The recent fatality in Bangladesh serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by zoonotic diseases and the importance of sustained public health vigilance in regions where such infections emerge recurrently.
