Ministry of Health Issues Travel Warning After Outbreak of Deadly Virus.
The Ministry of Health in Kenya has issued an advisory urging citizens to avoid non-essential travel to certain parts of India following the confirmation of a Nipah virus (NiV) outbreak in the West Bengal region
Director-General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth announced the caution on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, emphasizing that while the overall risk of the virus spreading to Kenya remains low, heightened vigilance is necessary due to the pathogen's severity. No cases have ever been recorded in Africa, and the ministry is actively monitoring developments through its National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (NPHEOC), which is operating in watch mode.
The outbreak involves two laboratory-confirmed cases reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by Indian authorities on January 26, 2026. Both patients are healthcare workers from the same private hospital in Barasat, North 24 Parganas district, with symptoms emerging in late December 2025. One remains on mechanical ventilation, while the other has shown improvement after severe neurological complications. Indian health officials have traced and tested 196 close contacts, all of whom tested negative.
Nipah virus is a zoonotic pathogen primarily transmitted from infected fruit bats (flying foxes) to humans, often via contaminated food such as date palm sap or fruits exposed to bat saliva, urine, or excreta. It can also spread directly from person to person through close contact, particularly in healthcare or household settings. There is no licensed vaccine or specific antiviral treatment available.
Common early symptoms include flu-like signs such as fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and sore throat, typically appearing around 14 days after exposure. The disease can progress to severe encephalitis, respiratory issues, or coma in some cases, with historically high fatality rates in outbreaks.
Dr. Amoth stated: “Two confirmed cases have been reported in the current outbreak in the West Bengal region in India. The risk of spread of the disease to Kenya is low, [and] the Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation.”
For travelers who must visit affected areas, the ministry recommends strict adherence to personal hygiene practices, including frequent handwashing, avoiding close contact with individuals who are seriously ill, thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables, steering clear of fruits showing bite marks or signs of animal contamination, and refraining from consuming raw date palm sap or unprocessed fruit products. Anyone handling sick or dead animals should exercise extreme caution.
The advisory aligns with WHO assessments, which classify the current risk as moderate at the sub-national level in India but low regionally and globally, with no recommendations for travel or trade restrictions. Several Asian countries have ramped up airport screenings in response to the cases.
Kenya's Ministry of Health continues to conduct risk assessments and strengthen surveillance to ensure rapid detection and response if needed, underscoring the importance of preparedness against emerging zoonotic threats.
