Danger of Nipah virus looms in India! Nurse dies even after being tested negative, know how this dangerous disease is spreading

West Bengal: Nipah virus is a dangerous disease which spreads from animals to humans. This virus can start from bats and reach humans. Recently this virus has taken one life in West Bengal. This is the first death due to Nipah in recent years in the state. The Health Department has confirmed the incident and the situation is being monitored.

25 year old nurse dies

A 25-year-old female nurse working in a private hospital in Barasat in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal was infected with Nipah virus. This nurse was one of the two cases reported in January 2026. The second case was of a male nurse, who has completely recovered after treatment and returned home. The condition of the female nurse was very serious from the beginning.

He was kept in ICU and ventilator for a long time. Doctors treated him continuously. Some time ago, his Nipah virus test came negative, that is, the virus was eliminated from the body, but complications increased during the treatment. Due to being in a long coma, his immunity became weak and he got a lung infection. Ultimately he died of cardiac arrest on 12 February 2026.

Nipah virus symptoms

Nipah virus is mainly spread by fruit bats. It can reach humans through infected fruits, date palm juice or direct contact. It can also spread while caring for patients in hospitals, as happened in this case.

Its initial symptoms are fever, headache, vomiting and sore throat. Later it affects the brain, which can lead to coma or death. The risk of death ranges from 40 to 75 percent. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for it yet. Therefore prevention is very important.

Six countries have started screening

The health department took immediate action after two cases were confirmed in January. About 196 people who came in contact with the infected were examined, but the virus was not found in anyone. No new case has come. The central government sent an expert team and increased surveillance. Some countries have also started screening at airports.