5 Nipah virus cases detected in Bengal, nearly 100 people quarantined

Panic has spread across parts of West Bengal after five cases of the Nipah virus were detected, prompting authorities to quarantine around 100 people as a precautionary measure. Three new cases were identified this week, including a doctor, a nurse and another healthcare worker, raising concerns over possible exposure within medical settings.

Earlier, two nurses working at a private hospital in Barasat, near Kolkata, had tested positive for the virus. Following the fresh detections, health authorities intensified contact tracing and advised those who came in close contact with the patients to remain under home quarantine.

The three newly infected patients have been shifted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Beleghata, Kolkata, for specialised treatment. Meanwhile, the two nurses diagnosed earlier continue to remain admitted in the intensive care unit of a private hospital. Health officials said the condition of the male nurse has shown improvement, while the female nurse remains in a critical state.

The World Health Organization categorises Nipah as a high-risk disease due to its zoonotic nature and potential to cause outbreaks. There is currently no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment available, making early detection, isolation and monitoring crucial to prevent further spread.

Medical experts have reiterated that Nipah virus infection in humans is rare and usually linked to contact with fruit-eating bats or consumption of contaminated fruits. While sporadic human-to-human transmission has been reported, officials stressed that strict surveillance and containment measures are being enforced to control the situation.