Nipah Virus Scare in Bengal: Two Nurses Hospitalized, Samples Sent to Pune

• Two nurses from Barasat admitted to hospital on suspicion of Nipah virus infection; samples sent to Pune for confirmation.
• Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus, primarily spread from fruit bats to humans, and can also infect pigs.
• Symptoms range from fever, headache, muscle pain to severe encephalitis, seizures, and coma, with a high fatality rate (45-75%).
• No specific treatment or vaccine exists; prevention involves avoiding contact with infected animals and contaminated food like raw date palm sap.
• The virus can spread through bat-eaten fruits and from infected persons' belongings; early detection is crucial due to high mortality.

Why It Matters: Nipah virus, a highly contagious and fatal zoonotic disease, raises alarm in Bengal with suspected cases.