The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has said the Maldives currently faces a low risk from the Nipah virus, following the detection of confirmed cases in India, while emphasising that the situation is being closely monitored as a precaution.

According to HPA, three people tested positive for the Nipah virus in West Bengal, India, in January 2026. Indian health authorities have since carried out extensive contact tracing, identifying around 180 individuals who were in contact with the confirmed cases. These individuals have been quarantined as a preventive measure, and their health conditions are being closely monitored.

HPA noted that no additional confirmed Nipah cases have been reported in India so far, and no cases have been detected in any other countries.

Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, particularly from fruit bats of the Pteropus family and from pigs. The virus can also spread through close human-to-human contact or through consumption of contaminated food. The World Health Organization has listed Nipah virus among its priority diseases due to its potential to cause outbreaks.

Common symptoms of Nipah virus infection include fever, headache, cough, sore throat and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, the illness can progress rapidly to acute respiratory distress and encephalitis, which may cause confusion, seizures and loss of consciousness. Some infected individuals may experience mild symptoms or remain asymptomatic. There is currently no specific cure for Nipah virus, although supportive treatment is used to manage symptoms.

HPA said that while India has reported Nipah cases in previous years, the risk of importation to the Maldives remains low at present. The agency confirmed that it has not received any reports of suspected cases locally, nor of individuals who may have come into contact with confirmed Nipah patients.

As a precaution, HPA has advised travellers to West Bengal to remain cautious and to practise good hygiene. The agency said it is working closely with relevant authorities to strengthen preventive measures and will continue to monitor regional developments related to the virus.