Nipah Virus Confirmed in West Bengal: Two Nurses Critical, 120 Contacts Isolated

• Pune's NIV confirmed two Nipah virus cases in West Bengal from samples of two nurses at a Barasat private hospital.
• Both infected nurses are in critical condition, with one in a coma and on ventilator support; strict infection control protocols are in place.
• A house staff doctor from Burdwan, who contacted a nurse, developed a mild fever and will be admitted to Beliaghata ID Hospital.
• Over 120 close contacts, including family, doctors, and healthcare workers, have been traced and advised home isolation.
• The source of infection is unclear, with possibilities including human-to-human transmission or contaminated fruits/date palm sap.

Why It Matters: Nipah virus confirmed in West Bengal with two critical cases; extensive contact tracing and isolation underway.