Data Report

January 29, 2026
Two Nipah virus infections confirmed in West Bengal, WHO urges One Health surveillance

SUMMARY:
Two laboratory-confirmed Nipah virus infections in nurses in West Bengal prompted targeted public health action and regional travel screenings

India confirmed 2 laboratory-confirmed cases of Nipah virus infection in West Bengal in January 2026. Both patients were 25-year-old nurses employed at the same private hospital in Barasat and developed neurologic complications after symptom onset in late December 2025

LINK:
https://www.dvm360.com/view/two-nipah-virus-infections-confirmed-in-west-bengal-who-urges-one-health-surveillance
&
LINK:
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/nipah-virus-disease-cases-reported-west-bengal-india-very-low-risk-europeans

COMMENT: I can't help but cringe  when they say it is "low risk" It may be low risk but they should say the stakes are super high. I guess it is  low risk for a high stakes disease! ...Nipah virus (NiV) can spread from human-to-human so I guess they are saying they quarantined everybody. I guess we will have to take their word on that .. of course  it got two laboratory nurses to begin with which was also probably considered a low risk probability is something to think about. Again, just the fact that it was from a laboratory spooks me.

From their words...

"Media and regional reports indicate that the January 2026 situation has triggered airport and border screening in some neighboring countries as a precautionary measure. Veterinarians with animals or clients who travel regionally should be aware of evolving advisories."

... note they say "some  neighboring countries" and not all neighboring counties.

...also they say "Veterinarians with animals or clients who travel regionally should be aware of evolving advisories"

.. note yeah they "should be aware" but are they aware!?
Merely being being aware of something doesn't mean crap insofar as precautions go such as masking & quarantining animals especially if people and animals are asymptomatic. Besides what does "evolving advisories" mean and do veterinarians know what that means? My trust is zip. If it was such low risk they wouldn't have got it so who are they to advise be they an evolving advisory or not!?

Passengers on Balmoral cruise ship confirm outbreak of gastroenteritis

The cruise ship scheduled to visit for Up-Helly-Aa is reported to have suffered an outbreak of gastroenteritis affecting as many as 200 people on board.Meanwhile, rumours had been circulating in Shetland that there had also been an outbreak of norovirus on board the ship, which can carry up to 1,230 passengers.

(In May last year, operators of the cruise ship Costa Favolosa sparked fury by allowing thousands of passengers to come ashore in Shetland despite there having been an outbreak of a sickness bug on board.)

LINK:
https://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/news/passengers-on-cancelled-up-helly-aa-cruise-say-200-people-on-425769/

SUMMARY - An outbreak of influenza at a psychoneurological care facility in the nation of Russia has killed nine people and has left "dozens" of others hospitalized with the illness. Officials are working to contain the outbreak.

LINK - https://news.az/news/nine-die-at-care-facility-in-russias-kemerovo

Florida reports 3 new measles cases, including one in Hillsborough.

Source of information.

1. Medical Express.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-florida-measles-cases-hillsborough.html#google_vignette

SUMMARY - In the United States, Washington State has recorded its first pediatric influenza death for the year 2026 as a "school-age teen" has died from the illness in Snohomish County. Across the state, as of Jan. 17, there have been 59 confirmed flu-related deaths.

NOTE - For international readers, "Washington D.C." and "Washington State" are two different areas of the country. "Washington D.C." is on the East coast where the capital for the entire United States resides and "Washington State" is, as described, a state that is on the West coast.

LINK - https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/school-age-teen-dies-flu-snohomish-county/YRO2R32CNJCVNBUWBRFGDO2CUY/