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India is currently grappling with another health crisis, and there are calls for the country to reconsider hosting the T20 World Cup 2026 amid the Nipah virus outbreak. Concerns are rising for the safety of thousands of athletes, with many voices on social media echoing these worries. Some are suggesting that the Nipah virus situation in West Bengal is so severe that countries like China and others in Southeast Asia have started screening travelers at their airports. So, is the situation really dire enough to deem India unfit to host the T20 World Cup next week? 

In a nutshell, no. The Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal isn’t a new phenomenon. This marks the eighth occurrence of such an outbreak, with two female nurses testing positive back in December. Thankfully, both are currently in quarantine and receiving treatment, and their contacts have been traced and tested negative. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus, typically transmitted from animals to humans. It can also spread through contaminated food or direct person-to-person contact.

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The virus was first identified during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia in 1998, and a subsequent outbreak occurred in Singapore in 1999 after sick pigs were imported from Malaysia. The fatality rate ranges from 40% to 75%, and unfortunately, there’s no vaccine or cure available at this time, with a total of 756 cases reported and 435 deaths. 

However, unlike the SARS-CoV-2 virus that led to the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s no evidence to suggest that Nipah is airborne. It’s important to note, though, that it can spread through respiratory droplets if an infected person coughs or sneezes nearby. 

In India, the first report of the virus came in 2001 from Siliguri in West Bengal, and there have been several outbreaks since then, particularly in Kerala and West Bengal. Learning from the COVID-19 experience, countries like Nepal, Thailand, and Indonesia have started implementing thermal screening at their airports, and Australia is keeping a close eye on the situation as well. 

The two cases of the Nipah virus were identified in Barasat, which is about 30 kilometers from Eden Gardens, the venue for six matches of the T20 World Cup 2026, including the semifinal. Fortunately, since these are isolated incidents, there’s no cause for concern regarding safety. The matches are set to proceed as planned.