Health and Me

Ishita Srivastava

Nipah Virus Fatality Reported in Bangladesh, One Woman Dead

A woman with no travel history has died from Nipah virus in Bangladesh, the World Health Organization has confirmed.

The patient, aged between 40 and 50, developed a fever and headache-like symptoms consistent with the  virus, followed by hypersalivation, disorientation and convulsion on 21 January. 

The case was reported in the northern Naogaon district, Sharmin Sultana, senior scientific officer at the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research, later said.

She died on January 28 and was confirmed to be infected with the virus the day after. Although she had no travel history, she regularly consumed raw date palm sap, reports suggest. 

The WHO said all 35 people who had contact with the now-deceased patient were being monitored and have tested negative for the virus. No new cases had been detected to date.

Since its emergence in 2001, Bangldesh has reported cases of Nipah virus in humans every year. In 2025, four laboratory-confirmed fatal cases were reported in the country.

The Nipah virus outbreak began in West Bengal, India in January with two hospital nurses at AIIMS, Kolkata, testing positive for the infection and being quarantined, prompting widespread testing. Soon after, five cases, including a doctor and a staff member, were confirmed and over 100 people were quarantined.

However, one of the nurses, a 25-year-old unidentified man has now made a recovery and revealed his experience with the virus, claiming that despite irritation in the throat and uncertainty about what lay ahead, he had faith in his doctors and fellow nurses.

In an interview with the Metro, he said: “After I was taken off ventilation and regained consciousness, I came to know that I have Nipah. I still had the tube in my mouth, and there was irritation. Despite the irritation and my fear, I had faith in the doctors and nurses.

“I have suffered and I know the symptoms. I will tell people when they should get checked for the Nipah virus. I want to raise awareness about the virus and its symptoms.

“I am not sure how I came in contact with the deadly virus. Maybe it was while treating a patient. But I will continue to work as a nurse. I am waiting to rejoin the hospital,” he added.

The unidentified healthcare professional remains very weak physically and is undergoing physiotherapy to regain his strength. “I was bedridden for over a month. I am still very weak and have an unstable gait. So, I am undergoing physiotherapy,” he said.

The other nurse, a woman, remains in a coma but has been taken off ventilation support, a hospital official confirmed this week. 

<h2>Nipah Virus: What Is It And What Are Its Symptoms?</h2>

According to WHO, Nipah virus is a zoonotic illness which means it is mostly transmitted from animals to humans through bats. However, it can also spread through fruits that have been contaminated by the saliva, urine or droppings of infected bats. Human-to-human transmission can also occur through close contact with an infected person or their bodily fluids.

The illness has a 75 percent fatality rate, and there are no vaccines to protect the public.

The virus was first identified in 1998 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia and soon made its way to India and Bangladesh in 2001, with cases often involving family members or caregivers tending to the infected patient.

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/nipah-vs-bird-flu-in-india-which-virus-poses-a-greater-threat-to-humans-article-153575449" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Nipah vs Bird Flu in India: Which Virus Poses A Greater Threat To Humans?</a>

Although the Nipah virus has caused only a few known outbreaks in Asia, it infects a wide range of animals and causes severe disease and death in people. Some of its common symptoms include:

<ul><li>Fever</li><li>Headache</li><li>Breathing difficulties</li><li>Cough and sore throat</li><li>Diarrhea</li><li>Vomiting</li><li>Muscle pain and severe weakness</li></ul>In 2018, another outbreak occurred in Kerala, India, where 23 confirmed and suspected cases were reported. The virus spread across three hospitals, with both primary and secondary infections traced back to one initial patient.

Samples collected from the patient’s home and workplaces, including pets and partially eaten fruits dropped by bats, all tested negative for the virus, and the exact source of the infection could not be identified.

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A woman with no travel history has died from Nipah virus in Bangladesh, the World Health Organization has confirmed. The patient, aged between 40 and 50, developed a fever and headache-like symptoms consistent with the  virus, followed by hypersalivation, disorientation and convulsion on 21 January. The case was reported in the northern Naogaon district, Sharmin Sultana, senior scientific officer at the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research, later said.She died on January 28 and was confirmed to be infected with the virus the day after. Although she had no travel history, she regularly consumed raw date palm sap, reports suggest. The WHO said all 35 people who had contact with the now-deceased patient were being monitored and have tested negative for the virus. No new cases had been detected to date.Since its emergence in 2001, Bangldesh has reported cases of Nipah virus in humans every year. In 2025, four laboratory-confirmed fatal cases were reported in the country. What's Happening In India?The Nipah virus outbreak began in West Bengal, India in January with two hospital nurses at AIIMS, Kolkata, testing positive for the infection and being quarantined, prompting widespread testing. Soon after, five cases, including a doctor and a staff member, were confirmed and over 100 people were quarantined.However, one of the nurses, a 25-year-old unidentified man has now made a recovery and revealed his experience with the virus, claiming that despite irritation in the throat and uncertainty about what lay ahead, he had faith in his doctors and fellow nurses.In an interview with the Metro, he said: “After I was taken off ventilation and regained consciousness, I came to know that I have Nipah. I still had the tube in my mouth, and there was irritation. Despite the irritation and my fear, I had faith in the doctors and nurses.“I have suffered and I know the symptoms. I will tell people when they should get checked for the Nipah virus. I want to raise awareness about the virus and its symptoms.“I am not sure how I came in contact with the deadly virus. Maybe it was while treating a patient. But I will continue to work as a nurse. I am waiting to rejoin the hospital,” he added.The unidentified healthcare professional remains very weak physically and is undergoing physiotherapy to regain his strength. “I was bedridden for over a month. I am still very weak and have an unstable gait. So, I am undergoing physiotherapy,” he said.The other nurse, a woman, remains in a coma but has been taken off ventilation support, a hospital official confirmed this week. Nipah Virus: What Is It And What Are Its Symptoms?According to WHO, Nipah virus is a zoonotic illness which means it is mostly transmitted from animals to humans through bats. However, it can also spread through fruits that have been contaminated by the saliva, urine or droppings of infected bats. Human-to-human transmission can also occur through close contact with an infected person or their bodily fluids.The illness has a 75 percent fatality rate, and there are no vaccines to protect the public.The virus was first identified in 1998 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia and soon made its way to India and Bangladesh in 2001, with cases often involving family members or caregivers tending to the infected patient.READ MORE: Nipah vs Bird Flu in India: Which Virus Poses A Greater Threat To Humans?Although the Nipah virus has caused only a few known outbreaks in Asia, it infects a wide range of animals and causes severe disease and death in people. Some of its common symptoms include:FeverHeadacheBreathing difficultiesCough and sore throatDiarrheaVomitingMuscle pain and severe weaknessIn 2018, another outbreak occurred in Kerala, India, where 23 confirmed and suspected cases were reported. The virus spread across three hospitals, with both primary and secondary infections traced back to one initial patient.Samples collected from the patient’s home and workplaces, including pets and partially eaten fruits dropped by bats, all tested negative for the virus, and the exact source of the infection could not be identified.