Nipah Alert in West Bengal After Pune Lab Confirms Cases

West Bengal has been placed on high alert after two samples tested positive for Nipah virus, a zoonotic infection known for its high fatality rate. The confirmation came from the National Institute of Virology, Pune, following re-testing of samples from two nurses admitted to a hospital in Barasat. Both patients remain in critical condition, triggering extensive contact tracing and containment measures.

Laboratory Confirmation and Patient Status

The samples were first tested at AIIMS Kalyani and later sent to the National Institute of Virology for confirmation. NIV confirmed Nipah infection in both cases. Health officials said both nurses are currently on ventilator support, with one patient reported to be in a coma. A house staff doctor from a Burdwan hospital, who had close contact with one of the nurses, has developed mild fever and is being monitored.

Contact Tracing and Isolation Measures

The state health department has identified over 120 close contacts of the two nurses, including family members, doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers, and other healthcare workers. All identified contacts have been placed under home isolation. Officials said contact tracing is still ongoing, with samples from several contacts sent for testing at AIIMS Kalyani. Health authorities in Katwa and Burdwan districts have separately placed dozens of medical professionals under observation as a precaution.

Possible Source of Infection Under Probe

Officials said the source of the infection remains unclear. Preliminary inputs suggest the nurses may have contracted the virus through human-to-human transmission at the Barasat hospital, where a healthcare worker had died with Nipah-like symptoms weeks earlier. Other possible sources include exposure to contaminated fruits or raw date palm sap, which is known to be a transmission route through fruit bats. Both nurses had recently travelled within the state, to East Midnapore and Katwa, but had no major travel history outside West Bengal.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans.
• Fruit bats of the Pteropus genus are the natural reservoir of Nipah virus.
• Human-to-human transmission has been documented in healthcare settings.
• The National Institute of Virology, Pune, is India’s apex lab for viral outbreaks.

Centre-State Coordination and Monitoring

A panel is coordinating closely with a National Joint Outbreak Response Team sent by the Union health ministry to monitor the evolving situation. Health officials said strict infection control protocols are being followed in all affected hospitals, with surveillance intensified to prevent further spread.