Bangladesh has confirmed its first Nipah virus fatality of the year, with the World Health Organization (WHO) verifying the death of a middle-aged woman in northern Bangladesh. The victim, aged between 40-50 years, initially manifested symptoms including fever and severe headache on January 21 before developing more serious neurological complications including hypersalivation, disorientation, and convulsions. Despite medical intervention, she succumbed to the infection one week after symptom onset, with laboratory confirmation of Nipah virus obtained posthumously.
Epidemiological investigation revealed the patient had consumed raw date palm sap, a known transmission route for the virus through contamination by infected bats. Health authorities have identified and monitored 35 individuals who had contact with the deceased, all of whom have tested negative for the virus to date. No secondary cases have been detected.
This occurrence follows recent Nipah cases detected in neighboring India, prompting multiple Asian nations including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Pakistan to implement enhanced airport screening measures. The virus demonstrates high fatality rates, estimated at up to 75% of cases, though human-to-human transmission remains limited.
The WHO has assessed the international transmission risk as low and currently advises against implementing travel or trade restrictions. This case marks a continuation of Nipah’s endemic presence in Bangladesh, where four laboratory-confirmed fatalities were recorded in 2025. No licensed therapeutics or vaccines specifically targeting Nipah virus infection are currently available.