An Indian nurse in West Bengal has died after contracting the lethal Nipah virus in December, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam told Reuters that the woman, who had been in critical condition, passed away due to cardiac arrest. She was one of two people in the state infected with the virus and had been receiving treatment at a local hospital.
The Nipah virus, typically transmitted to humans through contact with infected bats or contaminated fruit, can trigger fever and brain inflammation, with fatality rates ranging from 40% to 75%.
India occasionally reports sporadic cases, particularly in southern regions such as Kerala, which is considered among the world’s highest-risk areas for the virus.
Following last month’s confirmed infections, countries including Thailand, Singapore, and Pakistan strengthened airport screening, though the World Health Organization noted the overall risk of spread remained low.
Earlier in January, a woman in Bangladesh also died after contracting the virus, according to WHO reports.
