Nipah Virus Outbreak in Asia Prompts Risk Assessment for Spain
Spain faces a very low risk of Nipah virus (NiV) infection following recent confirmed cases in India and Bangladesh, according to a rapid risk assessment released by The Coordination Center for Health Alerts and Emergencies (CCAES) of the Ministry of Health. The report, published in response to emerging outbreaks in South Asia, details the current situation and assesses the potential impact on the Spanish population.
Recent Outbreaks in India and Bangladesh
On January 12, 2026, health officials in India reported two suspected cases of NiV disease among healthcare professionals in the state of West Bengal. These cases were subsequently confirmed on January 14, 2026, marking the first detections in West Bengal since 2007. Simultaneously, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh notified the World Health Organization (WHO) on February 3, 2026, of a confirmed NiV infection in the Naogaon district of the Rajshahi division.
A History of Nipah Virus
First identified in 1998 during outbreaks among pig farmers in Malaysia and Singapore, Nipah virus has since been reported in Bangladesh, India, and the Philippines (with an isolated outbreak in 2014). India experienced initial outbreaks in West Bengal in 2001 and 2007, specifically in the districts of Siliguri and Nadia, areas bordering Bangladesh that share similar ecological conditions, including significant fruit bat populations. More recently, the state of Kerala in India has experienced recurring outbreaks since 2018.
Severity and Transmission of NiV
Since its discovery, approximately 750 human cases of NiV disease have been reported to the WHO, with a concerning fatality rate estimated between 40% and 75%. The virus is a zoonotic disease, meaning it transmits from animals to humans. Transmission occurs through contact with infected animals – primarily fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family, which serve as the virus’s natural reservoir, and other animals like pigs – or through contaminated food, such as date palm sap. It can also spread via fomites contaminated with saliva or excretions from infected animals, and through close, prolonged contact with an infected person.
The incubation period for NiV ranges from 4 to 32 days. Initial symptoms can be mild, including fever, headache, muscle pain, and nausea. However, the disease can progress to more severe manifestations, such as acute encephalitis and atypical pneumonia leading to severe acute respiratory failure. Critically, there is currently no specific vaccine or treatment available for NiV infection.
Minimal Risk to Spain
The CCAES assessment emphasizes that the risk to Spain remains very low. “NiV has not been detected in the country,” a senior official stated, “and no animal species known to carry the virus are present within our borders.” Furthermore, there is no evidence of movement of potentially infected animal species or their products from the affected regions. Consequently, the probability of autochthonous zoonotic transmission – meaning transmission originating within Spain – is considered extremely low.
The Ministry of Health highlighted the existing ban on importing live pigs and pork products from the affected countries as a preventative measure. “Taking into account the ban on the import of live pigs and pork products from the affected countries, as well as the absence of reservoir species in our country, the probability of detecting a native case in Spain is remote,” the report confirms.
While the possibility of an imported case in Spain cannot be entirely ruled out, officials believe it is very low. However, they are confident that Spain’s robust surveillance systems, advanced laboratory capabilities, and well-equipped healthcare system would effectively mitigate the impact of any imported case. “The current risk of Nipah virus disease for the population of Spain is estimated to be very low,” the assessment concludes.
