“We Said 2016, Not 2020”: Nipah Virus Resurfaces in India, Raising Global Concern and Travel Checks
- A Nipah virus outbreak in India’s West Bengal state has sparked concern online and renewed attention to zoonotic diseases
- Health authorities confirmed two cases and contained the outbreak, while neighbouring Asian countries introduced enhanced health screenings for travellers
- The virus, which has no approved cure and a high fatality rate, has prompted mixed reactions on social media, reflecting lingering public anxiety from past pandemics
A virus with no known cure has resurfaced in India, prompting renewed concern across social media platforms and sparking online anxiety reminiscent of the early days of COVID‑19.
Source: Getty Images
According to ABC News, which shared a video on 29 January 2026, Indian officials reported a Nipah virus outbreak in the eastern state of West Bengal, where two confirmed cases were identified and later contained by health authorities.
Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that spreads from animals, particularly fruit bats, to humans and can also pass between people through close contact. There is no approved vaccine or cure, and fatality rates in past outbreaks have ranged between 40 % and 75 %, according to the World Health Organisation. Symptoms often begin with fever, headache and respiratory issues, but can rapidly progress to severe complications such as encephalitis, inflammation of the brain, which can be fatal.
The Nipah virus was first identified in 1998 during an outbreak in Malaysia and Singapore, specifically in the village of Nipah in Malaysia, hence the name. The outbreak occurred among pig farmers and those in contact with infected pigs, resulting in over 100 deaths.
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The virus is believed to have originated from fruit bats, which are natural carriers of the virus. Since then, outbreaks have occurred sporadically in Southeast Asia and other regions, with the most recent outbreak in India's West Bengal state
Asian countries, including Thailand, Nepal, and Taiwan, have implemented COVID-style health checks for travellers from India, with thermal scanning and digital health declaration forms.
The World Health Organisation has listed the Nipah virus as a priority pathogen due to its pandemic potential. Researchers are working on developing treatments, including monoclonal antibodies and antiviral therapies.
Online reactions to the news were mixed, with some social media users expressing anxiety over the virus’s lethality and lack of treatment, while others urged calm, noting that health officials had successfully contained the cases and that there was no evidence of widespread transmission. Such responses echo the public’s memory of past pandemics and highlight how health scares can quickly stir public concern, especially in a world still recovering from COVID‑19’s social impact.
Source: Getty Images
Netizens weigh in on the Nipah virus outbreak in India
The online community took to the comments section to share their thoughts on the Nipah virus spreading rapidly in India.
Denver Bosley said:
"We said 2016, not 2020."
Uiyjithu said:
"If the Indian immune system can’t handle it. What makes you think we can?"
Emily suggested:
"Can we stop travel before this spreads?"
Dr A. Sade shared:
"This is literally how we first started learning about Covid in December 2019."
Cal stated:
"Here we go again."
Malia replied:
"Close the borders right now."
Potatoes commented:
"Leave the bats alone, please."
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Source: Briefly News
