Emergency in India

Nipah Virus Infection

Nipah virus (NiV) infection is a newly emerging zoonosis that causes severe disease in both animals and humans. The natural host of the virus are fruit bats (Indian flying fox).

India has reported three NiV outbreaks in the past. The first two were in West Bengal: Siliguri in 2001 and Nadia in 2007. A third outbreak was reported in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts of Kerala, India in May 2018.

The country has recently reported one laboratory confirmed case of Nipah virus disease, from Ernakulum, Kerala (4 June 2019). Both the Union and State levels of the Ministry of Health are supporting the public health response linked to this event 
(Link to PIB press release) WHO is closely monitoring the situation.

Nipah virus is one of the pathogens in the WHO Research and Development (R and D) Blueprint list of epidemic threats needing urgent R and D action.

More Information

Nipah virus infection - India updates - 2018

Emergencies preparedness, response

Nipah Virus Guidelines by National Centre for Disease Control, 
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India