Nipah Virus Explained: Symptoms, Causes, Risks, and Prevention

The Nipah virus is primarily transmitted to humans through animals such as pigs and fruit bats, either by direct contact or exposure to their bodily fluids and secretions. Once contracted, the virus can remain in the body for an incubation period ranging from four to 14 days before symptoms begin to appear. Health experts consider Nipah highly dangerous because it can spread easily between humans and has no approved vaccine, placing it among the World Health Organization’s high-risk epidemic threats. The fatality rate ranges from 40% to 75%, making it significantly more lethal than many other viral outbreaks.

Common symptoms of Nipah virus infection include fever, severe headache, breathing difficulties and drowsiness, which can progress rapidly to more serious complications. Authorities have cautioned that any negligence in screening or surveillance procedures will be treated as a serious violation. Daily records of suspected and confirmed cases at entry points are being maintained and shared with the National Command and Operation Centre to ensure coordinated monitoring and response.

Global health concerns have intensified following warnings issued by the World Health Organization after suspected Nipah cases were reported in India’s West Bengal. Officials stress that strict screening, early diagnosis and continuous surveillance are critical to preventing cross-border transmission and local spread.

In response to the potential threat, Pakistan’s federal government has issued a nationwide health alert, directing all relevant departments to implement strict preventive measures at airports, seaports and land crossings. Border Health Services has circulated a detailed advisory describing Nipah as a highly contagious zoonotic virus capable of spreading from animals to humans and through human-to-human contact. The advisory highlights the virus’s high fatality rate and emphasizes that early detection, isolation and rapid response are essential to protecting public health.