Seven Out of Ten Die If Infected... Deadly Untreatable Virus Spreads in India

Zoonotic Disease Nipah Virus
Early Diagnosis and Proactive Isolation Are the Only Effective Measures

A confirmed case of the deadly infectious disease "Nipah virus" has emerged in eastern India, prompting local health authorities to respond. Nipah virus is a highly dangerous infectious disease with a fatality rate of up to 70%, and there are currently no known vaccines or treatments. In South Korea, Nipah virus is managed as a Class 1 infectious disease.

According to reports from local Indian media such as the Economic Times on January 23 (local time), health authorities in West Bengal, eastern India, announced that five cases of Nipah virus infection had been reported in the region. In order to contain the spread of the virus, authorities have placed approximately 100 people under quarantine.

Nipah virus is an infectious disease that spreads with fruit bats as its host. Yonhap News

Nipah virus is a zoonotic infectious disease (a disease that can be transmitted between humans and animals) that uses bats as its host. The virus can be transmitted not only from animals to humans, but also between humans, and the fatality rate can reach up to 70%. As there are currently no vaccines or specific treatments available, early diagnosis and proactive isolation remain the most effective countermeasures.

The average incubation period is 5 to 14 days. Symptoms such as high fever and headache typically persist for about 3 to 14 days, followed by unusual symptoms including lethargy, dizziness, and confusion. In severe cases, the disease can lead to encephalitis and seizures, and patients may fall into a coma within 24 to 48 hours.

It has been reported that the confirmed cases include two nurses and one doctor, among other medical personnel, with the two nurses said to be in critical condition. An official from India's Ministry of Health told the state news agency PTI, "Some patients are in serious condition, and the remaining patients are also receiving treatment under close observation."

The World Health Organization (WHO) also designated Nipah virus as a priority pathogen in 2024. Priority pathogens are viruses that pose a risk of causing international public health emergencies.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency also designated Nipah virus as a Class 1 statutory infectious disease and a quarantinable disease in September 2025. This was the first new designation in five years since the coronavirus in January 2020. As a result, patients or suspected cases diagnosed with Nipah virus infection will be subject to public health management, including reporting, isolation, contact tracing, and epidemiological investigation.