After the confirmation of two cases of Nipah virus in West Bengal, the Central Government has constituted a National Joint Outbreak Response Team to rapidly bring the situation under control. Both the infected persons are residents of Barasat town of North 24 Parganas district and are health workers by profession. At present both are undergoing treatment in the same hospital where they are working.
Briefing on the situation, state Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty said, “The patients are being treated and monitored. Plans for contact-tracing and treatment have already been prepared.” He said that both the patients are admitted in the hospital and are under medical observation.
According to state government officials, both the infected persons had recently gone to East Burdwan for personal reasons. Subsequently, as a precautionary measure, extensive contact-tracing has been started in North 24 Parganas, East Burdwan and Nadia districts. Officials have clarified that both the patients had not traveled outside West Bengal in recent days, and health teams are in constant touch with their families.
Government officials have appealed to the people to remain calm, not spread rumors and follow hygiene precautions, saying there is no need to panic. The administration says that the situation is being closely monitored and all necessary precautionary measures are being taken.
The Central Government has deployed an expert team from the Union Health Ministry to provide technical and operational support to the State. The team includes All India Institute of Health and Public Hygiene, Kolkata; National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune; National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), Chennai; Experts from AIIMS-Kalyani and the Department of Wildlife under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change are involved.
“Given the serious nature of Nipah virus infection, which is a zoonotic disease with a high mortality rate and can spread rapidly, this situation is being handled with the highest priority,” a senior health ministry official told The Hindu.
The center also confirmed that the region is being given comprehensive support, including specialized laboratory services, enhanced surveillance, clinical case management, stringent infection control protocols and expert advice. The state government has been directed to work in coordination with the centrally deployed teams and give top priority to contact-tracing and containment strategies.
Meanwhile, Union Health Minister JP Nadda has written a letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inquiring about the situation. With constant coordination between the Center and the state, the administration’s emphasis is on stopping any possible spread at an early stage and ensuring public health safety.
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