A high-level health alert has been sounded in West Bengal after two healthcare workers tested positive for the Nipah virus, marking the return of the lethal pathogen to the state after nearly two decades. The two patients, both nurses employed at a private hospital in Barasat, North 24 Parganas, are currently in critical condition and remain on ventilator support in an isolation ward.
State and Central Government Action
Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and Health Secretary Narayan Swarup Nigam confirmed the outbreak during a press conference on Monday. The infection was initially detected at the AIIMS Kalyani laboratory, and samples have since been dispatched to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for final confirmation.
In response to the escalating situation, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda reached out to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee via telephone to assure full federal assistance. The Centre has deployed a “National Joint Outbreak Response Team” (NJORT) to Kolkata, consisting of experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Department of Wildlife. This team will collaborate with state health officials to implement containment strategies and investigate the zoonotic source of the transmission.
Containment and Contact Tracing
Health officials have launched an extensive contact-tracing operation spanning three districts: North 24 Parganas, Nadia, and Purba Bardhaman. One of the infected nurses hails from Katwa (Purba Bardhaman), while the other is a resident of Nadia. Authorities are currently mapping the movements of the two individuals to identify anyone who may have been exposed.
The state has also activated three dedicated helpline numbers for public assistance and reporting of symptoms:
9874708858
9836046212
033-2333-0180
Public Health Advisory
Medical experts have urged citizens to exercise extreme caution, particularly regarding food safety. Residents are advised to avoid consuming fruits that appear to have been bitten by birds or animals and to refrain from drinking raw date palm sap—a common source of Nipah transmission via fruit bats.
West Bengal last faced a major Nipah outbreak in 2001 in Siliguri, which resulted in a high fatality rate. With the virus now resurfacing near the state capital, the administration remains on high alert to prevent a wider community spread.