Nipah Virus Cases Confirmed in West Bengal, State on High Alert

West Bengal on High Alert After Nipah Virus Cases Confirmed

West Bengal has been placed under heightened health surveillance after two samples tested positive for Nipah virus , a highly lethal zoonotic disease. The confirmation was issued by the National Institute of Virology , Pune, after re-testing samples collected from two nurses undergoing treatment at a hospital in Barasat. The development has prompted swift containment and monitoring measures across multiple districts.

Case Confirmation and Medical Condition

The samples were initially analysed at AIIMS Kalyani before being forwarded to the National Institute of Virology for definitive diagnosis. Both patients have been confirmed as Nipah-positive and are reported to be in critical condition, requiring ventilator support. One of the nurses is stated to be in a comatose state.

Health authorities are also monitoring a house staff doctor from a hospital in Burdwan who had close contact with one of the patients and has since developed mild fever.

Contact Tracing and Containment Measures

The state health department has identified more than 120 high-risk contacts , including family members, healthcare workers, ambulance staff, and hospital support personnel. All close contacts have been placed under home isolation , while several samples have been collected and sent for testing.

In districts such as Katwa and Burdwan, additional healthcare professionals have been placed under precautionary observation. Surveillance teams continue to expand contact tracing to rule out further spread.

Investigating the Source of Infection

Officials have not yet identified the definitive source of infection. Preliminary investigations suggest the possibility of human-to-human transmission within the Barasat hospital, where a healthcare worker had earlier died after exhibiting symptoms resembling Nipah infection.

Other potential transmission routes under examination include consumption of contaminated fruits or raw date palm sap, which can be exposed to fruit bats. Both infected nurses had recent intra-state travel histories within West Bengal but no significant travel outside the state.

Centre–State Coordination

The state government is coordinating closely with a National Joint Outbreak Response Team deputed by the Union Ministry of Health. Strict infection prevention protocols have been enforced in hospitals, and active surveillance has been intensified to detect any additional cases at an early stage.

Key Exam-Focused Points

• Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease with a high fatality rate.

• Fruit bats of the Pteropus genus are the natural reservoir of the virus.

• Human-to-human transmission has been documented, especially in healthcare settings.

• National Institute of Virology, Pune , is India’s apex laboratory for viral outbreak confirmation.

• Rapid contact tracing and isolation are critical containment strategies.