1. The Nipah virus spreads through fruit bats as natural hosts, and animals such as cats, goats, pigs, horses and sheep. It can also spread through contaminated food, or unwell persons.
2. Washing hands with soap and water or using hand sanitisers with at least 60% alcohol content helps prevent the Nipah virus.
3. 90% of symptoms develop between 4 to 14 days of exposure. These are flu-like symptoms like sore throat, fever, headache, muscle pain and nausea. Alert your doctor if you have travelled to a Nipah virus infected areas or been exposed to someone who has.
Travellers to Nipah virus affected countries who feel unwell during or after their trip should seek medical attention promptly. They should inform their doctor of their recent travel and any potential exposures to raw date palm sap, bats or unwell persons.
The Nipah virus is a rare but serious viral infection with an estimated fatality rate of 40 to 75 per cent. It can cause illnesses ranging from respiratory distress to brain inflammation.
The virus can be spread from animals to humans (zoonotic virus) with fruit bats as natural hosts of the virus. The virus has also infected other animals, such as pigs, cats, goats, horses and sheep.
In some cases, the Nipah virus can spread through contaminated food or directly from person to person.
Since December 2025, India has confirmed two human cases of the virus in West Bengal but has assured “timely containment” of the virus. There is currently no reported cases of Nipah virus infections (NiV) in Singapore.
“Nipah virus is capable of limited human‑to‑human transmission, most often observed in healthcare settings and typically involving caregivers who have close, unprotected contact with the bodily fluids of infected patients.
It (Nipah virus) is significantly less transmissible than common respiratory viruses such as the common cold, influenza, or COVID‑19, which spread efficiently through respiratory droplets,” shared Dr Jade Soh, Head and Senior Consultant from the Department of Infectious Diseases at Sengkang General Hospital (SKH), a member of the SingHealth group.
“Current evidence indicates that Nipah virus does not spread easily in the general community, and the risk to the public remains low. Standard infection‑prevention measures — such as good hygiene and avoiding contact with the bodily fluids of sick individuals — are highly effective,” she added.
How to avoid Nipah virus
To reduce risk of exposure, travellers to Nipah virus affected areas are advised to maintain vigilance and adopt the following health precautions:
- Observe good personal hygiene by washing hands regularly with soap and water, or with hand sanitisers with at least 60% alcohol content.
- Avoid food and drinks that can be contaminated by bats, such as raw date palm sap, and fruit found on the ground.
- Avoid contact with pigs and bats, and bat roosting places.
- Avoid direct contact with unwell persons.
- Consume fully cooked food and fruits that can be washed and peeled.
“In addition, you can keep your immune system strong to better protect yourself from viral infections by aiming to:
- Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and adequate protein;
- Drink enough water;
- Get 7–9 hours of quality sleep; and
- Stay active with regular moderate exercise.
Good hygiene — such as washing your hands often and avoiding to touch your face — remains one of the simplest and most effective ways to stay healthy.
Keeping up to date with recommended vaccinations, avoiding smoking, and limiting alcohol intake also play an important role in supporting your body’s natural defences,” Dr Soh added.
Symptoms of Nipah virus
The incubation period of the Nipah virus infection in humans is between 4 to 45 days, with >90% of symptoms developing between 4 and 14 days after exposure.
Early symptoms of the Nipah virus infection can resemble flu or other viral illnesses such as:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Nausea or vomiting
As the infection progresses, signs can become more serious:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Difficulty breathing
- Seizures
- Coma
Travellers to Nipah virus affected countries who feel unwell during or after their trip should seek medical attention promptly. They should inform their doctor of their recent travel and any potential exposures to raw date palm sap, bats or unwell persons.
Currently, there is no approved vaccine or cure for the virus so treatment is mainly limited to supportive care, which includes rest, fluids to prevent dehydration, and treatment of symptoms and complications.
Safety measures in Singapore as of Feb 2026
According to the CDA (Communicable Diseases Agency Singapore), the current safeguards in place are:
1. Temperature screening will be set up at the airport for flights arriving from affected areas.
2. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is stepping up surveillance of newly arrived migrant workers from South Asia, and engaging MOM primary care providers to increase vigilance.
3. Health advisories will be disseminated to travellers at points of entry to Singapore, with instructions to seek medical attention if unwell after travel for inbound travellers, and health precautions for outbound travellers.
4. As, NiV (Nipah virus infection) is a notifiable disease under the Infectious Diseases Act, medical practitioners and laboratories are required to notify the CDA immediately of all confirmed and suspected cases of the NiV.
5. The CDA has alerted hospitals and emergency departments to be vigilant for Nipah virus infections in patients with compatible symptoms and recent travel history to the affected area.
6. The CDA is also reaching out to its counterparts in South Asia, to better understand the situation. Work is ongoing to establish a global platform for countries to report genome sequencing of detected cases.
When was the Nipah virus first identified?
The Nipah virus was first identified between 1998 and 1999 in Malaysia and Singapore during an outbreak among people with close contact with infected pigs. In subsequent outbreaks in Bangladesh and India's Kerala and West Bengal, limited human-to-human transmission has been reported.
Nipah virus infection (NiV) poses a recurring risk across parts of South Asia, as its animal reservoir, fruit bats, is widely distributed across the region. Ongoing bio-surveillance programmes to monitor Singapore's bat populations since 2011 have not detected any Nipah virus infections so far.
Ref: F26
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