BEIJING (Pak Global Pakistan) — China’s National Disease Control and Prevention Administration has confirmed that no cases of the deadly Nipah virus have been detected within the country, stating that the recent outbreak in India poses a minimal risk to China.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Chinese health authorities said the current Nipah virus outbreak is mainly concentrated in India’s West Bengal region, which does not share a land border with China. Based on geographical distance and transmission patterns, officials said the likelihood of spread into China remains low.
The administration explained that the Nipah virus is mainly transmitted through direct contact with infected animals, patients, or contaminated materials. Due to the virus’s weak ability to survive in the environment, the general public faces a relatively low risk of infection.
“After a comprehensive risk assessment, the impact of the Nipah virus outbreak in India on China is considered limited,” the administration said, while acknowledging that the possibility of imported cases from abroad cannot be ruled out.
Chinese authorities urged travelers visiting countries affected by Nipah virus to exercise caution by maintaining good personal hygiene, ensuring food safety, and avoiding contact with bats, livestock, and individuals suspected of infection. The public was also advised not to consume raw or untreated food and beverages and to avoid fruits and vegetables of unknown origin.
Following reports of the outbreak in India, China’s disease control agencies immediately stepped up monitoring of overseas developments and carried out timely risk evaluations. Training programs for medical and disease control professionals have been enhanced, along with increased surveillance and testing, particularly in border regions.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) told media outlets that the risk of further international spread from the Indian cases remains low. WHO officials noted that there is currently no evidence of increased human-to-human transmission, although the exact source of the infection has yet to be fully identified.
Chinese health experts cautioned that the Nipah virus has a history of recurring outbreaks and carries a high fatality rate. Past cases indicate that human-to-human transmission has largely occurred through hospital-acquired infections, with outbreaks typically remaining small and localized.
In response to the outbreak, several Asian airports — including those in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, and Nepal — have tightened health surveillance and passenger screening measures to prevent potential cross-border transmission.