Indian authorities have confirmed two cases of the Nipah virus in the eastern state of West Bengal, saying swift public health measures helped ensure “timely containment” of the outbreak.
In a statement issued late Tuesday, the health ministry said enhanced surveillance, laboratory testing and field investigations were carried out promptly, preventing further spread of the virus. No additional details were provided about the infected individuals.
The ministry said the situation remains under close monitoring and that all necessary public health measures are in place. It added that 196 people who had come into contact with the patients were traced and tested, with all results returning negative.
Nipah is a zoonotic virus transmitted from animals to humans and has no approved vaccine. According to the World Health Organization, the virus carries a fatality rate of between 40 and 75 per cent.
The virus was first identified in 1998 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia. India reported its first Nipah outbreak in West Bengal in 2001.
Subsequent outbreaks have occurred in Kerala, where at least 17 people died in 2018. Two further deaths were reported in the southern state in 2023.
Symptoms of Nipah infection include high fever, vomiting and respiratory illness. In severe cases, it can lead to seizures and inflammation of the brain, potentially resulting in coma.
Fruit bats are considered the natural reservoir of the virus and are believed to be the primary source of human infections.