According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a woman has died in northern Bangladesh after contracting the deadly Nipah virus in January.
The patient, who was between 40 and 50 years old, began showing symptoms on January 21, including high fever, headache, hypersalivation (excessive salivation), disorientation, and seizures. She passed away one week after the onset of symptoms. The investigation determined that the deceased had no recent travel history; however, she regularly consumed raw date palm sap.
The Nipah virus is particularly dangerous due to its high fatality rate, reaching up to 75% of cases. Although the virus does not spread easily from human to human, previous outbreaks in India have prompted several Asian countries (including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Pakistan) to tighten temperature screenings at airports. In 2025, Bangladesh has already recorded four laboratory-confirmed deaths from the virus.
At this stage, there is no licensed vaccine or specific medication available to treat the Nipah virus. According to the WHO, the risk of international spread remains low; however, caution is essential, especially in regions inhabited by infected fruit bats. All individuals who had contact with the deceased are currently under monitoring, and so far, their tests have returned negative.
