Nipah alert: Pune lab confirms two Bengal cases - Nurses critical, source still unknown, 120 in home isolation

File photo (Reuters)

• Nipah virus confirmed in two nurses in West Bengal, both in critical condition
• Over 120 contacts traced; many placed under home isolation for monitoring
• Officials suspect human or food transmission; infection source unclear

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The National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, has confirmed Nipah virus infection in the two samples sent from West Bengal. The samples were taken from two nurses working at a private hospital in Barasat. Both nurses remain in critical condition, officials said.

The confirmation from Pune came after initial tests at AIIMS Kalyani showed positive results, following which samples were sent for reconfirmation. Nipah is a rare but highly fatal viral disease, and health officials are now on high alert to prevent further spread.

The two infected nurses, one male and one female, are currently undergoing treatment at the Barasat hospital where they are employed.

Both patients are on ventilator support, while the female nurse has slipped into a coma, TOI reported. Doctors are following strict infection control protocols, but officials admitted that the severity of the disease is a major concern.

Meanwhile, a house staff doctor from a hospital in Burdwan, who had close contact with one of the nurses, has developed mild fever. Health officials are planning to shift the doctor to Beliaghata ID Hospital for further observation and treatment.

Over 120 contacts traced, many in home isolation

The state health department has so far identified more than 120 people who came in close contact with the two nurses in recent days. These include family members, doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers, and other healthcare workers. All identified contacts have been advised home isolation, and efforts are underway to trace more people.

According to officials, the female nurse was earlier treated at hospitals in Katwa and Burdwan before being shifted to Barasat. As a result, 10 people from Katwa, including two doctors, and 38 from Burdwan, including eight doctors, have also been placed under home isolation. Samples from some close contacts have already been sent for testing.

Source of infection unclear

Health officials said the exact source of the infection is still not known. There is a possibility of human-to-human transmission, as a healthcare worker from the same Barasat hospital had died a few weeks ago after showing symptoms similar to Nipah.

"It is difficult to pinpoint the source of infection. It could be human-to-human transmission or they might have got the virus from contaminated fruits or fresh date palm sap," an official was quoted by TOI as saying.

The nurses do not have any recent travel history outside the state, but they had visited their hometowns in East Midnapore and Katwa shortly before falling ill. Officials pointed out that winter is a time when people in rural areas often consume raw date palm juice, which can be contaminated by fruit bats, known carriers of the Nipah virus.

A special panel has been formed to closely monitor the situation and is coordinating with a National Joint Outbreak Response Team sent by the Union health ministry.