Nipah virus 2026 – simple guide to stay safe

Nipah virus (NiV) is an emerging zoonotic virus that spreads from animals to humans and can cause severe infection of the brain and lungs.

The main natural hosts are fruit bats, but pigs and other animals can also be infected, sometimes leading to outbreaks in people.

• Incubation period: about 4–14 days after exposure.
• Reported mainly in South and Southeast Asia.
• Outbreak fatality rates have ranged from 40–75%.

• Early: fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, sore throat.
• Progressive: cough, difficulty breathing, chest discomfort.
• Severe: confusion, drowsiness, seizures, coma from encephalitis.

• Contact with infected animals, especially pigs or bats, or their body fluids.
• Eating fruit or drinking raw sap contaminated by infected bats.
• Close contact with body fluids of infected people in homes or healthcare settings.

• Avoid contact with sick animals and their body fluids.
• Do not drink raw date palm sap; wash and peel fruit before eating.
• Practice hand hygiene and use masks, gloves and eye protection when caring for sick people.