Two healthcare employees in West Bengal are suspected to have been contaminated with the Nipah virus. Photos are for consultant functions solely. |Picture courtesy: Particular Association
On Monday (January 12, 2026), two suspected instances of Nipah virus have been detected on the Institute of Virology Analysis and Diagnostics, AIIMS Kalyani, West Bengal. The 2 healthcare employees contaminated with the virus are being handled and are reported to be in “very crucial” situation.
A senior West Bengal well being division official mentioned the state of affairs was being tackled on high precedence contemplating the intense nature of Nipah virus an infection, a zoonotic illness with excessive mortality charge and the potential for speedy unfold.
State authorities officers mentioned the 2 sufferers have been visiting Purba Bardhaman on private enterprise. Accordingly, contact tracing is being carried out throughout North 24 Parganas, Purba Bardhaman and Nadia districts. The state authorities has additionally opened three helpline numbers (03323330180, 9874708858 and 9836046212) for public inquiries.
Sources mentioned the Nationwide Joint Epidemic Response Group has been deployed to help state governments with containment and public well being response efforts.
What’s Nipah virus?
Nipah is a virus named after the Malaysian village of Kampung Sungai Nipah, the place it was first found in 1998-1999. In keeping with the World Well being Group (WHO), Nipah virus an infection is a zoonotic illness, which means it’s a illness that may be transmitted from animals to people. This virus belongs to the genus Henipavirus (subfamily Paramyxovirinae). The pure host of the virus is fruit bats, which belong to the Chiropoda household. Pigs additionally function intermediate hosts.
Signs of Nipah
Nipah virus has flu-like signs, together with fever, muscle aches, sore throat, and respiratory sickness. In extreme instances, sufferers can expertise issue respiration, convulsions, and disorientation resulting from mind irritation. Delayed encephalitis may additionally happen. In some instances, individuals with asymptomatic infections could also be carriers of Nipah however don’t present signs.
Methods to diagnose Nipah and what are the assessments?
Nipah virus is assessed as a Biosecurity Degree (BSL) 4 pathogen and assessments have to be carried out in particular laboratories to stop its unfold. Docs diagnose by testing the blood to examine for antibodies, by histopathology (a microscopic research of tissue), or by polymerase chain response (PCR) strategies that search for viral DNA or by isolating the virus. Confirmatory assessments embody serum neutralization assessments, ELISA, and RT-PCR.
At the moment, there are not any vaccines accessible for each people and animals. Individuals contaminated with Nipah virus are given intensive supportive care. Nonetheless, sufferers are remoted and obtain in depth remedy in isolation.
In India, the final outbreak of the illness was seen in Kerala in August 2025.
What’s the remedy for this?
When Kerala first encountered NiV in 2018 (which was additionally the primary NiV outbreak in southern India), the case fatality charge was 91%, much like the worldwide NiV mortality charge. Of the 23 confirmed instances of NiV an infection between Might 2 and 29, 2018 (together with 18 laboratory-confirmed instances), solely two survived the an infection.
However the state has seen repeated outbreaks and has invested closely in monoclonal antibody therapies and antiviral medicine. By 2023, the mortality charge had dropped to 33%, with 4 out of six confirmed NiV instances surviving the an infection.
In the newest outbreak in 2025, the state well being division shortly administered monoclonal antibodies and antiviral medicine reminiscent of remdesivir to sufferers.
