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India has confirmed two Nipah virus infections involving nurses at a private hospital near Kolkata in West Bengal, according to multiple reports, as health officials moved to put quarantine and surveillance measures in place amid warnings about the virus’ high fatality rate and the absence of a cure.
Officials confirmed the cases reported by outlets including The Telegraph and The Independent, with West Bengal health authorities indicating that one of the infected nurses had deteriorated significantly. Narayan Swaroop Nigam, principal secretary of the state’s health and family welfare department, was quoted by The Telegraph as saying one nurse was in “critical condition.”
Alongside the case confirmations, health officials began rolling out monitoring steps focused on testing and isolating close contacts. Reports said 180 people were tested, while 20 high-risk contacts were quarantined and placed under follow-up surveillance.
Nigam was quoted as saying those quarantined were not showing symptoms and had so far tested negative, adding: “All of them are asymptomatic and tested negative. We will again test them before their 21-day quarantine ends.”
Nipah is described as a zoonotic virus, meaning it can spread between animals and humans. The World Health Organization (WHO) says fruit bats are the natural host, while transmission can also come from other animals such as pigs, contaminated foods, and direct human-to-human contact.
Health authorities have stressed that the virus can range from mild to severe illness, and the WHO estimates a 40% to 75% case fatality rate, depending on the outbreak context.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nipah can bring on symptoms including fever, headache, cough, sore throat, and difficulty breathing. It can also trigger encephalitis, a term used for brain swelling, which may lead to confusion, drowsiness, seizures, or comas.
The CDC says symptoms typically show up four to 14 days after infection. The text also notes there is no cure, meaning care is focused on supportive treatment and managing symptoms.
India’s Ministry of Health shared prevention precautions in a post on X, urging the public to follow local guidance and remain attentive to official updates. The ministry’s post said: “Stay alert, stay informed and follow advisories issued by local health authorities.”
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