Vietnam issues fruit warning after India reports highly fatal Nipah virus cluster

Vietnam’s Ministry of Health has warned people not to eat fruit bitten or gnawed by bats or birds, as authorities step up surveillance after a Nipah virus cluster was reported in India.

In a notice issued on the morning of Jan. 27, the ministry urged local governments to strengthen monitoring at border checkpoints, medical facilities and in communities. The advisory comes after India reported suspected Nipah infections among healthcare workers in West Bengal, prompting several Asian airports to tighten health screening in a manner reminiscent of the Covid-19 period.

Nipah is classified as a Group A infectious disease, the most dangerous category under Vietnam’s health regulations, with a fatality rate ranging from 40% to 75%. The virus is primarily transmitted from animals to humans, with fruit bats identified as the main source in India, or through contact with contaminated food or objects. Human-to-human transmission can also occur through direct contact with bodily fluids or secretions from infected patients.

To reduce the risk of infection, the Ministry of Health advised people to follow food safety practices such as eating fully cooked food, drinking boiled water, and washing and peeling fruit before consumption. The public was specifically warned not to eat fruit showing signs of being bitten by animals such as bats or birds, and to avoid drinking raw or unprocessed tree sap, including palm sap and fresh coconut sap.

The ministry also cautioned against close contact with animals that carry a high risk of transmitting the virus, particularly fruit bats, and recommended frequent handwashing with soap or disinfectant after handling or slaughtering animals.

People were advised to avoid travel to areas affected by Nipah outbreaks. Those returning from outbreak zones should seek medical attention immediately if they develop symptoms within 14 days, including headache, muscle pain, vomiting, sore throat, dizziness, drowsiness, confusion or seizures. Suspected patients should limit contact with others and clearly report their travel and exposure history to healthcare workers. Caregivers are advised to use personal protective equipment and avoid direct contact with potentially contaminated items.

The incubation period for Nipah virus ranges from four to 14 days. In severe cases, patients may experience neurological symptoms such as altered consciousness and signs of acute encephalitis.

India reported five suspected Nipah cases between Dec. 27, 2025, and Jan. 26, 2026, all involving healthcare workers at a hospital in West Bengal. Two of the cases have been laboratory-confirmed, while the source of infection remains unclear.

The Nipah virus was first identified in Malaysia in 1999 and was later recorded in humans in Bangladesh and India. Health authorities say the disease has appeared sporadically in small clusters and has not led to large-scale outbreaks.

Vietnam has not recorded any Nipah cases to date. There is currently no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment available for Nipah virus infection in humans or animals.

By Le Nga – VnExpress.net – January 26, 2026