Two suspected Nipah virus cases have been detected among health workers at a private hospital in Barasat, North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal. Both individuals are in critical condition and on ventilation. The state government has initiated contact tracing, with central support assured.
The West Bengal government announced on Monday that two suspected Nipah virus cases have been detected among a male nurse and a female nurse in their early 20s working at a private hospital in Barasat, North 24 Parganas district. Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty stated, 'Two suspected cases of Nipah virus have been reported. They both worked in the same hospital and are now admitted there. We have started contact tracing.' The individuals had traveled to East Midnapore and Purba Bardhaman in December and fell ill afterward.
Their samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for confirmation. Health Secretary NS Nigam said, 'Contact-tracing has been initiated in the districts where the two went, including North 24 Parganas. Some people who came in contact with the two have been traced and have been asked to isolate themselves at home. We are monitoring the situation. We have sufficient capacity to test Nipah virus samples.' Meetings were held with chief medical officers of North 24 Parganas, East Burdwan, and East Midnapore.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda spoke with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, assuring comprehensive technical, logistical, and operational support. A National Joint Outbreak Response Team has been deployed, and standard protocols shared for containment. The state has activated helpline numbers 033-2333-0180 and 98747-08858.
Nipah virus is commonly found in fruit bats, with a mortality rate of 70%. It spreads to humans through contact with infected animals, often via contaminated food like fruits. The government has urged people not to panic and to avoid bat-contaminated items. Previous outbreaks in India occurred in Kerala recently, and in West Bengal's Siliguri in 2001.
