Nipah virus in India and global negotiations to prevent future pandemics

As WHO supports the assessment of the outbreak in West Bengal, member states are moving forward on the PABS system to share pathogens and benefits equitably.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the risk of the Nipah virus spreading in India as “low.” It is a highly lethal pathogen for which there is no vaccine or specific treatment, and the assessment follows the confirmation of two cases in the state of West Bengal and the declaration of an epidemiological alert by Indian authorities, according to the agency’s preliminary evaluation. 

Last week, a WHO spokesperson said that India has the capacity to contain these outbreaks, as has been shown in past cases. The spokesperson also said the organization is in contact with local and national health authorities to carry out a risk assessment and provide technical support if required, as part of epidemiological monitoring. 

The organization stated that, for now, there is no evidence of increased human-to-human transmission of the virus. It noted that other routes of infection can be through animals such as bats or pigs, as well as through contaminated food, especially in areas where the virus is circulating.

On January 26, health authorities in India notified WHO of two confirmed cases of Nipah virus infection in the state of West Bengal. Both patients are nurses at a private hospital in the town of Barasat, who began showing symptoms in the first week of December and were isolated in early January.

Nipah virus infection ranges from asymptomatic cases to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis, with an estimated mortality rate of between 40% and 75%. The confirmation of the two cases led to some 190 people being placed under surveillance for having been in contact with those infected.

For its part, India’s Ministry of Health urged stronger safety measures in hospitals in the affected area, requiring full personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical staff amid concerns over possible human-to-human transmission.

The outbreak comes during the December-to-May season, which in India represents a higher risk of infection. It is a period associated with greater interaction between people and the virus’s natural reservoirs.

Global progress to prevent new pandemics

During the last week of January, the Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) made progress in their negotiations to create a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS System) under the WHO Pandemic Agreement. The PABS System is a central element of the agreement adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2025.

During the session held from January 20 to 22, 2026, Member States continued negotiations based on the document on the outstanding points of the draft annex and exchanged views in order to narrow differences and identify areas of convergence.

Along these lines, the Co-Chair of the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement, Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes, said he was encouraged by the progress made at the meeting and that he hopes the fifth meeting will address the outstanding and complex issues. He also noted that the latest session helped give a clearer picture of where the working group stands.

The Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement was established by the World Health Assembly, and its priority objective is to draft and negotiate the PABS System.

PABS seeks to promote the safe, transparent and responsible sharing of pathogens with pandemic potential and their genetic information, as well as the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their use, including vaccines, treatments and diagnostic tests.

Further meetings are planned for the coming months, at which Member States will continue their negotiations. “A robust Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System will be the cornerstone of a safer and more equitable world,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, who thanked countries for their commitment to multilateral solutions.

The outcome of this group’s work will be presented to the 79th World Health Assembly in May 2026 for consideration, at a time when WHO is promoting mechanisms to improve the coordinated response to outbreaks with the potential to spread. 

Guillermo Whpei

President of Fundación para la Democracia