As India Struggles With Fatal New Virus Outbreak, U.S. Drops Out Of World Health Organization (WHO)
The Country Journal Dangerous New Virus Just Discovered In India. Kills Up To 75% Of Those Who Get It January 26th, 2026 In an all-to-fa...
The Country Journal
Dangerous New Virus Just Discovered In India. Kills Up To 75% Of Those Who Get It
January 26th, 2026
In an all-to-familiar throwback to the spring of 2020, Indian health officials have confirmed two cases of a new and dangerous disease – the Nipah virus. The virus has a fatality rate of between 40% and 75%, says the World Health Organization.
The virus is initially hosted in fruit bats, but can be transmitted through pigs, food, and between people.
In India, quarantines and monitoring have been put into place. The two people with the virus are in critical condition, say Indian health authorities. China has been monitoring for the virus and none has gotten there yet, say Chinese officials.
In another familiar throwback to the beginning of the Covid virus, Thailand is screening their three airports that bring in planes from West Bengal, India. Nepal is also medically screening its arrivals from India, both overland and at airports.
There's no vaccine or medicine that helps those with the virus. The death rate is extremely high.
By comparison, the "Black Death" or bubonic plague pandemic in the 14th century is estimated to have wiped out 75% of the population in some areas. It was spread by fleas, carried by rats. The plague was a bacterial infection, not a virus.
The U.S. government is currently in a phase where it is withdrawing from involvement in world health. Last week the U.S. government withdrew from the World Health Organization, which helps monitor viruses around the world. The CDC -- the U.S. Centers for Disease Control – last mentioned Nipah Virus in passing on its website on May 16th, 2025.
