India Nipah case spike prompts caution over raw foods, coconut juice

Taiwan is moving to strengthen its public health safeguards after a Nipah virus outbreak in India, proposing to classify the infection as a notifiable disease amid rising regional and global health concerns.

Taiwan has announced plans to elevate its public health response to the Nipah virus following a recent outbreak in India, signaling heightened concern over the spread of one of the world’s deadliest zoonotic diseases. The move comes as Indian authorities work to contain infections reported in the eastern state of West Bengal.

Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said it intends to classify Nipah virus infection as a Category 5 notifiable disease, a designation reserved for emerging or rare infectious diseases that pose significant public health risks. According to Taiwanese media reports cited by Azernews, the proposal was formally released on January 16, triggering a 60-day public consultation period before it can be implemented.

While Nipah virus has been under priority surveillance in Taiwan since 2018, it has not previously been included in the country’s notifiable disease framework. If approved, the new classification would require immediate reporting of suspected cases, along with the enforcement of enhanced control, monitoring, and containment measures.

Globally, more than 750 cases of Nipah virus infection have been reported since the virus was first identified in 1998. With an estimated fatality rate of around 58 percent, the virus is considered one of the most lethal zoonotic pathogens known to affect humans. The CDC noted that the high mortality rate and potential for human-to-human transmission make early detection and rapid response critical.

The policy review follows confirmation of five Nipah infections in West Bengal as of January 19, according to Taiwan CDC Deputy Director-General Lin Ming-cheng. Indian authorities have reportedly placed nearly 100 individuals under quarantine as part of containment and contact-tracing efforts.

Despite the developments, Taiwan has maintained a Level 2 “yellow” travel alert only for Kerala, a southwestern Indian state that has historically been linked to previous Nipah outbreaks. No travel advisories have been issued for West Bengal or other regions at this stage. Under Taiwan’s four-tier travel advisory system, a Level 2 alert urges travelers to exercise increased caution but does not impose travel restrictions.

Lin said travel advisories would be adjusted based on how the situation evolves. Detection of community transmission could prompt stricter alerts, while hospital-limited outbreaks may lead to targeted advisories, such as avoiding medical facilities in affected areas.

The CDC also reiterated that fruit bats are the natural reservoir of the Nipah virus. It warned that coconuts contaminated by bat saliva or urine are a known transmission risk. Travelers to India were advised to avoid raw or unheated foods and beverages, particularly raw coconut juice.

Nipah virus can spread to humans through direct contact with infected bats or animals such as pigs, as well as via respiratory droplets and bodily fluids. While human-to-human transmission remains limited, cases of severe respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis have been documented, reinforcing the virus’s serious public health threat.