Nipah alert in West Bengal: Two nurses infected near Kolkata; surveillance and quarantine stepped up

Two confirmed cases prompt containment measures

Health authorities in India have confirmed two cases of Nipah virus in West Bengal, involving two nurses working at a private hospital near Kolkata, according to a report carried by People.com (citing Indian outlets). One of the infected nurses was reported to be in critical condition, with the article noting one was in a coma.

Officials suspect the nurses may have contracted the virus after treating a patient with severe respiratory symptoms who later died before testing could be completed. The patient is being treated as a suspected index case while investigations continue.

Testing, quarantine and contact-tracing expanded

As part of the response, officials have increased surveillance and containment steps. The report states that by 20 January, 180 people had been tested and 20 high-risk contacts quarantined, with tests reported as negative so far, while further follow-up testing is planned after the quarantine period.

Multiple agencies have been mobilised, including national-level support, as authorities try to rule out further spread and identify the transmission chain.

Why Nipah triggers high concern

Nipah is a zoonotic virus associated with high fatality risk in reported outbreaks, and there is no specific cure or widely available vaccine. Public health protocols therefore prioritise rapid isolation, rigorous infection-control practices in hospitals, and intensive contact-tracing.

The report also mentions investigation into possible animal links, including testing of bats, as fruit bats are a known natural reservoir in scientific literature and are often examined during Nipah investigations.