https://www.scmp.com/rss/525343/feed An outbreak of the highly fatal Nipah virus in India’s eastern state of West Bengal sparked public concern in China ahead of the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday, when millions will travel. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Kamala Thiagarajan Kamala Thiagarajan In a year already brimming with threats of war and unrest, 2026 has brought some health scares for Asia. In January, two cases of the deadly Nipah virus emerged among healthcare workers, both nurses, in West Bengal, India. One of the two nurses has since died. The Nipah virus has one of the highest fatality rates of any known viral disease, typically ranging from 40 to 75 per cent, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since 1998, when the first outbreak of the disease was recorded... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3344544/nipah-and-mpox-expose-asias-urgent-need-stronger-disease-surveillance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3344544/nipah-and-mpox-expose-asias-urgent-need-stronger-disease-surveillance?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 21:30:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial A small outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus in India has prompted health alerts across Asia – including screening of inbound passengers in Hong Kong – because of the disease’s high fatality rate. Thankfully there are factors so far against the virus’ spread beyond Kolkata, the capital of the state of West Bengal. They include reports of containment, low transmissibility and the absence of a direct air link with Kolkata, where the central authorities say there are only two confirmed cases and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341661/hong-kong-right-remain-vigilant-against-nipah-virus-spread?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341661/hong-kong-right-remain-vigilant-against-nipah-virus-spread?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji A small cluster of Nipah virus infections reported in eastern India has sparked regional anxiety because of the disease’s high fatality rate, prompting countries across Asia to tighten health screening ahead of the Lunar New Year travel rush, even as experts say the outbreak is likely to remain contained. That assessment follows confirmation by Indian authorities of two Nipah cases in West Bengal, but analysts have said the limited numbers, combined with the time that has passed since the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3341520/nipah-cases-india-raise-regional-anxiety-experts-say-wider-spread-unlikely?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3341520/nipah-cases-india-raise-regional-anxiety-experts-say-wider-spread-unlikely?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 07:14:01 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela A Chinese drug could help manage outbreaks of Nipah and prevent the spread of the deadly virus that has no vaccine or cure, researchers have said. The virus has a fatality rate of up to 75 per cent and the most recent outbreak in the Indian state of West Bengal has infected at least five people. While the virus has no approved treatment, researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology have found that VV116 – an oral antiviral drug originally developed to treat Covid-19 – allowed two-thirds of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341474/china-has-drug-could-help-india-battle-deadly-nipah-virus-outbreak-study?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341474/china-has-drug-could-help-india-battle-deadly-nipah-virus-outbreak-study?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 02:07:03 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hongkongers should avoid travelling to West Bengal, which is battling an outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus, an infectious diseases expert has warned, with an Indian community leader in the city predicting a short-term impact on family and business trips. The community leader also sought to reassure the public, dismissing fears that the outbreak in India would significantly affect Hong Kong in the long term. “There is a large and thriving Bengali community in Hong Kong. Those who are planning... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341460/hongkongers-urged-avoid-indias-west-bengal-amid-outbreak-deadly-nipah-virus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341460/hongkongers-urged-avoid-indias-west-bengal-amid-outbreak-deadly-nipah-virus?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:31:28 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng An outbreak of the highly fatal Nipah virus in India’s eastern state of West Bengal has sparked widespread attention and public concern in China ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday when millions will travel. While the virus has infected at least five people in West Bengal, including one in critical condition, Chinese health experts say it is difficult to transmit and less likely to cause an outbreak in China. With a fatality rate of up to 75 per cent and no effective treatment or vaccines... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341299/nipah-virus-outbreak-india-sparks-worry-china-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341299/nipah-virus-outbreak-india-sparks-worry-china-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 02:00:21 +0000