In Shorts
• Two nurses in West Bengal show symptoms of suspected Nipah virus and are critically ill.
• Central government deploys a national outbreak response team to support containment and tracing.
• Enhanced surveillance and emergency protocols activated amid serious public health concerns.
West Bengal health officials have sounded an alert after two nurses at a private hospital in the North 24 Parganas district began exhibiting symptoms that raise strong suspicion of Nipah virus infection. Preliminary tests were conducted at the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory at AIIMS Kalyani, with samples now under detailed analysis to confirm the diagnosis. Both healthcare workers, one male and one female, are among the staff at a hospital in Barasat. They have been placed in strict isolation and are receiving intensive care with ventilator support due to the severity of their conditions. One nurse became ill shortly after returning from her hometown in Katwa, Purba Bardhaman district, while the other resides in Nadia district. The Nipah virus is a highly lethal zoonotic pathogen that can spread through direct contact with infected animals or people, and can cause severe respiratory and neurological illness. There is no specific treatment or licensed vaccine available, making rapid containment and monitoring crucial. In response to the suspected infections, the federal government has activated emergency health protocols and deployed a National Joint Outbreak Response Team to West Bengal. The multidisciplinary team includes specialists from national health institutions such as the All India Institute of Health and Public Hygiene in Kolkata, the National Institute of Virology in Pune, the National Institute of Epidemiology in Chennai, and experts from AIIMS Kalyani. Representatives from the Department of Wildlife under the Ministry of Environment are also assisting in the effort. Health authorities have shared comprehensive Nipah virus guidelines with the State Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme to strengthen case detection and public health action. The Public Health Emergency Operations Centre at the National Centre for Disease Control has been activated to coordinate response measures nationwide. Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda has personally reached out to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, assuring complete central support in managing the situation and curbing further spread. Officials are also focusing on meticulous contact tracing around the affected individuals to prevent additional cases.
The situation continues to be closely monitored by health authorities as more information on test results and containment measures becomes available.
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