Six days have passed since the Nipah virus outbreak began in Kolkata. The number of infected people in the city remains steady at two confirmed cases. This stability offers a glimmer of hope amid the health scare.
Testing Reveals No New Infections
ICMR-NICED Kolkata conducted extensive testing on close contacts of the infected individuals. They used a mobile BSL-3 laboratory sent by NIV Pune for this purpose. The results came back negative for all 190 samples tested. This finding suggests the outbreak has not spread further within the tested group.
Patient Conditions Show Mixed Progress
The 25-year-old male nurse, one of the two confirmed positive cases, continues to show significant improvement. His health has progressed to the point where he no longer requires oxygen support. He is now able to consume food orally, marking a positive step in his recovery.
In contrast, the condition of the 25-year-old female nurse remains critical. Despite some gradual improvements in her clinical and biomedical parameters, she still faces serious health challenges. Medical teams are closely monitoring her situation.
Expert Medical Care in Place
A dedicated team of doctors is providing care for the two nurses from Barasat hospital. The team includes Swarup Paul, a critical care specialist, Ananya Das, a neurologist, Abhradip Das, a pulmonologist, and Amlan Kusum Dutta, another neurologist. They are working alongside a team sent by the state health department to ensure comprehensive treatment.
Health Department Maintains High Alert
State health department officials have stated they are on high alert despite the lack of new infections. Their goal is to ensure the outbreak remains restricted to only the two current cases. Vigilance continues as they monitor the situation closely to prevent any potential spread.
The outbreak has not shown signs of expanding, but authorities are taking no chances. They remain prepared to respond swiftly to any developments. Public health measures are in place to safeguard the community.
