The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) says it is closely monitoring reports of an outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus in India’s West Bengal state, disclosing that, so far, since December 2025 there have been two confirmed cases in West Bengal, with about 196 contacts line listed for monitoring.
Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic illness that is transmitted to people from animals, and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly from person to person. In infected people, it causes sudden flu-like illness marked by fever, headache, muscle pain and fatigue. In some cases, respiratory symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath or pneumonia also occur. The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers.
In the wake of this development, the NPHIL says it has activated the national Public Health Emergency Operating Center in Alert Mode, with key focus on enhancing port health and epidemiological monitoring at key border points, particularly at the Robert International Airport (RIA).
Therefore, the NPHIL called on travelers and the public to adhere to the following measures: intensify health screening of travelers arriving from India; ensure airline operators are informed and comply with health declaration processes; remind airlines to promptly report any ill travelers prior to arrival; and fully adhere to the Public Health Emergency Plan and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the RIA.
The NPHIL says it remains grateful for the continued collaboration in safeguarding the health of all travelers and the general population, as required by the International Health Regulations (2005).
