West Bengal confirms Nipah cases, Jharkhand ramps up surveillance

A Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal has raised serious health concerns after five people tested positive for the highly lethal infection, officials said. The cases include two health workers and three other individuals who developed symptoms and were confirmed to be infected, according to state health reports. The first two cases were nurses at a private hospital in Barasat, North 24 Parganas district, both of whom are in intensive care units with critical conditions. Subsequent testing and contact tracing have identified a total of five confirmed cases, prompting over 120 contacts to be placed under home isolation as a precaution.

While the current outbreak is limited to West Bengal, neighboring states such as Jharkhand , Bihar , and Odisha remain vulnerable due to close geographic proximity and frequent travel and trade links. Authorities in these states have stepped up surveillance, issued health advisories, and reinforced precautionary measures to prevent further spread of the virus.

Health authorities have intensified surveillance and containment measures in districts including Purba Bardhaman, Purba Medinipur, and Nadia following the detection of the virus. The Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic disease , transmitted from animals to humans and also between people. Fruit bats, particularly of the Pteropus genus, are the natural hosts. Humans can become infected through consumption of fruits or raw date palm sap contaminated by bat saliva or urine, direct contact with infected animals, or close contact with infected individuals, including caregivers and healthcare workers.

The infection initially presents with fever, headache, muscle pain, and sore throat , and can quickly progress to dizziness, altered consciousness, respiratory problems , and acute encephalitis . Severe cases may lead to seizures, coma , and can be fatal within days. There is currently no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine for Nipah, and medical care is focused on intensive supportive treatment for respiratory and neurological complications.

Although no deaths have been reported in the current outbreak, Nipah has a history of high mortality in India and the region . Past outbreaks in West Bengal in 2001 infected 66 people, resulting in 45 deaths, while a 2007 outbreak recorded five cases, all fatal. In other parts of India and neighboring countries, sporadic Nipah cases have also been reported, often linked to contact with fruit bats or contaminated food. Globally, the case fatality rate of Nipah has ranged from 40% to 90%, making it one of the deadliest known human infections.

Authorities have urged the public to avoid fallen fruits and raw date palm sap and to seek immediate medical attention if symptoms appear. Early detection, strict isolation, contact tracing, and surveillance remain critical to prevent further spread of the virus.