Risk of Nipah infection and spread in Viet Nam remain low: WHO

Dr. Angela Pratt made the assessment as Viet Nam remains on high alert amid a Nipah virus outbreak in India while the Lunar New Year is approaching and travel demand is increasing.

WHO is working closely with national and local health authorities in India. At this stage, the organization considers the likelihood of further international spread to be low and says there is currently no evidence of increased human-to-human transmission.

In Viet Nam, WHO is coordinating closely with the Ministry of Health to share information, closely monitor the situation, and support the strengthening of surveillance as well as infection prevention and control measures.

Dr. Angela Pratt stressed that, at this stage, the risk of infection and spread in Viet Nam remains low.

"We always encourage the community to follow guidance from local health authorities and practice basic health safety measures, to reduce risk of any infectious disease, " said Angela Pratt.

Earlier, the Ministry of Health reported that as of January 26, 2026, Viet Nam had not recorded any Nipah virus cases. Surveillance for Nipah has been conducted for years, and so far there is no evidence of the virus circulating in the community.

To proactively prevent the disease, the ministry instructed local authorities to strengthen surveillance and epidemic prevention measures at border checkpoints, healthcare facilities and within communities, and to prepare response plans for potential outbreaks.

To reduce the risk of infection, the Ministry of Health advised the public to follow food safety practices such as eating fully cooked food, drinking boiled water, and washing and peeling fruit before consumption. People were specifically warned against eating fruit showing signs of being bitten by animals such as bats or birds, and against drinking raw or unprocessed tree sap, including palm sap and fresh coconut sap.

Nipah is classified as a Group A infectious disease — the most dangerous category under Viet Nam's health regulations — with a fatality rate ranging from 40-75 percent. 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.

There is currently no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment available for Nipah virus infection in humans or animals./.