The woman suffering from Nipah virus had been in coma for weeks before passing away from a lung infection and cardiac arrest.

This is the second reported death from Nipah since the small outbreak began in West Bengal. Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a woman in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, also died after contracting the virus. Authorities said none of her contacts tested positive for Nipah, also known as NiV.

In response to the outbreak, countries including Thailand, Nepal, Taiwan, and Pakistan have introduced health screening at airports. However, the WHO and independent experts emphasize that the risk of a global pandemic remains low.

Must Read: Nipah virus outbreak contained in India’s West Bengal

Dr. Efstathios Giotis, a lecturer in life sciences at the University of Essex, said Nipah outbreaks have always been ‘geographically limited.’ He added, “At present, the Nipah virus does not pose a risk to the UK. It does not spread easily between humans, which makes a global pandemic unlikely.”

Experts stressed that ongoing surveillance, rapid outbreak response, and strong public health systems are essential to keep the risk low. Historically, Nipah cases have only been confirmed in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore.

Must Read: Precautions for Nipah virus

The UK Health Security Agency (HSA) advises travelers to affected countries to avoid contact with fruit bats, wash fruit thoroughly, and not consume raw or partially fermented date palm sap. Currently, the UK Foreign Office has not added Nipah to its travel advice for India.