Nipah Virus Confirmed in Bengal Nurses as Health Officials Isolate Over 120 Contacts
The National Institute of Virology in Pune has officially confirmed the presence of the Nipah virus in two samples sent from West Bengal. This confirmation comes after initial positive tests at AIIMS Kalyani. Both samples belong to nurses from a Barasat hospital who remain in critical condition.
Critical Patients and Expanding Contact List
Both infected nurses are currently on ventilator support at the Barasat hospital where they work. Medical sources report the female nurse has slipped into a coma. Their conditions highlight the severe nature of this viral disease, which carries a high mortality rate.
Health department officials have identified more than 120 individuals who had close contact with the two nurses. All these contacts are now in home isolation as a precautionary measure. The contact list includes family members of the nurses along with numerous healthcare workers.
"Contact tracing continues actively," stated a health department official. "We have identified approximately 120 close contacts so far and are working to find more."
Healthcare Network Affected
The contact isolation spans multiple medical facilities. Healthcare personnel from the Barasat hospital face isolation alongside staff from two other hospitals in Katwa and Burdwan. The female nurse received treatment at these facilities before her transfer to Barasat.
East Burdwan health department sources reveal specific numbers: 10 individuals from Katwa, including two doctors, and 38 from Burdwan, including eight doctors, are currently in home isolation. Beyond doctors, the observation list includes nurses, ambulance drivers, and various healthcare providers.
Medical authorities have collected samples from some close contacts and sent them to AIIMS Kalyani for testing. In a related development, a house staff member at a Burdwan hospital developed mild fever after close contact with one of the nurses. Officials plan to move this doctor to Beliaghata ID Hospital for monitoring.
Investigating the Source of Infection
The origin of this Nipah virus outbreak remains unclear. Health officials are exploring multiple transmission possibilities. One theory suggests human-to-human transmission, possibly from a colleague at the Barasat hospital. A healthcare worker at that facility died several weeks ago after displaying Nipah-like symptoms.
"Pinpointing the exact infection source proves challenging," explained an official. "Transmission could occur through human contact or from contaminated fruits or fresh date palm sap."
Both patients lack significant travel history outside West Bengal. However, they visited their homes in East Midnapore and Katwa shortly before falling ill. Health officials note that many migrant workers typically return home around this season, suggesting another potential human transmission route.
"During winter months, rural residents often consume raw date palm juice," a source noted. "Fruit bats feeding on date palms can contaminate this juice, creating a possible infection source."
Coordinated Response Efforts
A dedicated panel now coordinates with a National Joint Outbreak Response Team dispatched by the Union Health Ministry. This collaboration aims to monitor the situation closely and implement effective containment measures.
Hospital doctors follow all established medical protocols, but concerns persist about the infection's severity and high fatality rate. The confirmation from Pune's premier virology institute underscores the seriousness of this outbreak as health authorities work to prevent further spread.
