রোগতত্ত্ব, রোগ নিয়ন্ত্রণ ও গবেষণা ইনস্টিটিউট

Overview of Nipah Virus

Human Nipah Virus (NiV) infection is a highly contagious zoonotic disease, caused by the Nipah Virus of Paramyxoviridae family. Fruit bats of the Pteropus genus are the natural reservoir of NiV. In Bangladesh, the disease is primarily transmitted to humans through the consumption of raw date palm sap or fermented date palm sap (tari) contaminated with bat saliva or excreta. Human-to-human transmission has also been documented in Bangladesh, particularly through close contact with infected individuals or in healthcare settings. Transmission can also occur through the consumption of partially eaten fruits by infected bats.

The first recorded outbreak of Nipah virus in Bangladesh occurred in Meherpur district in 2001. Since then, outbreaks have been reported almost every year, typically occurring from December to May, coinciding with the winter season in Bangladesh. As of 5th February 2026, a total of 348 Nipah virus cases have been confirmed in the country between 2001 and 2026, with a case fatality rate of 72%.

Since 2006, Bangladesh has implemented active surveillance for Nipah virus in collaboration with icddr,b with technical support from CDC and CEPI. Currently, there are 16 surveillance sites - 13 active and 3 passive. In addition to these, enhanced and event-based surveillance systems are in place for early detection and response to suspected outbreaks.

Nipah Surveillance Sites