West Bengal Nipah Alert: 100 Quarantined After Nurses Test Positive
Health officials in West Bengal have placed nearly 100 people under home quarantine. This action follows the confirmation of Nipah virus infection in two nurses from a private hospital in Barasat, North 24 Parganas district. The state government initiated mass contact tracing over the past two days.
Intensive Surveillance Across Districts
The health department has intensified Nipah surveillance in several districts. These include North 24 Parganas, Purba Bardhaman, Purba Medinipur, and Nadia. Officials are monitoring the situation closely to prevent further spread.
Among those quarantined, around 30 individuals are under close observation. The two infected nurses remain in critical condition at the Barasat hospital. Health Secretary Narayan Swarup Nigam assured the public that all necessary measures are being taken.
"We are taking all measures possible and following protocols. There is no need to panic," Nigam stated.
Contact Tracing Details
The two patients are a male nurse from Purba Medinipur district and a female nurse from Mongolkot in Purba Bardhaman district. Health department sources revealed that contact tracing identified family members, doctors, nurses, drivers, and others who interacted with the patients.
"These include family members of the patients, doctors, nurses, drivers and others who have come into contact with the patients. We have asked them to go into home quarantine for 14 to 21 days. We are keeping a watch on them," said a senior doctor from the health department.
A senior health official added that contact persons were identified in Nadia, Purba Bardhaman, and North 24 Parganas. Authorities are gathering details about the areas both nurses visited and the number of people they met.
Blood Samples Sent for Testing
Blood samples from individuals who came into contact with the infected nurses have been sent to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Kalyani for Nipah virus testing. This step aims to confirm any additional cases promptly.
Meanwhile, two others from the Katwa subdivisional hospital—a doctor and a nurse—who had contact with the female nurse have been admitted to the infectious diseases hospital in Beleghata.
Patient Background and Movements
A relative of the female nurse shared details about her illness. She felt unwell since December 25 but continued working in Barasat until December 30. She returned home on January 2 with a high fever.
"That day, we took her to a private doctor. That night, she fainted. She was then taken to the Katwa subdivisional hospital. However, later she was taken to and admitted to the private hospital in Barasat, where she worked," the relative explained.
Another relative living near the patient's house in Katwa mentioned that health officials locked her home. Her parents are currently in Kolkata.
Health department officials identified at least 60 people from Purba Bardhaman who had contact with the female nurse. This group includes doctors, nurses, health workers, and ambulance drivers from the Katwa subdivisional hospital.
The female nurse attended a family wedding in Nadia on December 15 and 17. She also visited several places, including Shantiniketan. After falling ill, she was admitted to a medical college in South Bengal.
The male nurse was on night duty with the female nurse on December 20 and 21 at the hospital.
Health Department Preparations
A health official stated that a separate ward has been established at the infectious disease hospital in Beliaghata for Nipah patients. The department is following various protocols and has alerted all hospitals to remain vigilant.
"We have established a separate ward in the infectious disease hospital in Beliaghata to admit patients affected by the Nipah virus. We are also following various protocols, and all hospitals have been informed to remain vigilant for such cases. If any hospital encounters a patient with Nipah virus symptoms, they should transfer them immediately to the hospital," the official said.
Understanding Nipah Virus
The Nipah virus is a highly fatal zoonotic infection. Fruit bats serve as the natural reservoir, and pigs act as hosts. This virus has resurfaced in West Bengal, following previous outbreaks in Siliguri in 2001 and Tehatta in 2007.
In recent years, Kerala has reported several outbreaks, starting with the first in 2018. Health authorities emphasize the importance of early detection and strict quarantine measures to control the spread.
