Two young nurses working at a private hospital in Barasat, near Kolkata, have been hospitalised with severe symptoms of the Nipah virus. Their condition remains critical according to medical sources. Both healthcare workers are currently receiving treatment in a dedicated isolation ward at the same facility.
Positive Tests and Reconfirmation Efforts
Samples collected from the two individuals returned positive results for Nipah virus at the AIIMS laboratory in Kalyani. The West Bengal state health department has now forwarded these samples to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for final confirmation. This step follows standard protocol for such serious infectious disease cases.
National Response and Coordination
The Union Health Secretary conducted an urgent review of the situation with senior state officials. The meeting focused on implementing swift and coordinated containment measures. In response, the central government has dispatched a National Joint Outbreak Response Team to West Bengal without delay.
This specialized team includes experts from the All India Institute of Health and Public Hygiene and the National Institute of Virology. Their primary task involves assessing the on-ground situation and providing technical support to local health authorities.
Travel History and Political Assurance
Preliminary investigations reveal that the two affected nurses had no significant recent travel history to other Indian states. This detail raises important questions about local transmission patterns that health officials are now urgently investigating.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda has personally assured West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of the central government's full support in managing this health emergency. This high-level political coordination underscores the seriousness with which authorities are treating this Nipah virus outbreak.
