Nipah in Bengal: Centre Forms Joint Response Team for Quick Containment

• Central government forms a national joint outbreak response team after two Nipah virus cases detected in West Bengal.
• Two healthcare workers from Barasat, North 24 Parganas, are infected and undergoing treatment.
• Contact-tracing efforts are underway across North 24 Parganas, Purba Bardhaman, and Nadia districts.
• Union Health Ministry deployed a team of experts from various institutes to support the state government.
• Authorities emphasize calm, hygiene, and strict containment strategies due to Nipah's serious nature and high mortality.

Why It Matters: Centre deploys joint team to West Bengal for urgent Nipah containment after two cases emerge.