Tragedy struck a Barasat hospital in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas as a nurse became the state’s first fatality from Nipah virus on Thursday. Admitted to the ICU, she succumbed to a secondary pulmonary infection complicating her viral illness.
State health sources revealed that this nurse and one other were the sole confirmed Nipah patients to date. The surviving nurse is receiving intensive care at the same hospital, monitored closely by a team of specialists.
In response, a comprehensive contact tracing operation was launched immediately. Every person who interacted with the nurses was tracked down, tested, and cleared—no positive cases emerged from the screenings. This rapid action has reassured officials that the outbreak remains contained.
Originating mainly from fruit bats, Nipah spreads via infected fruits or direct contact. WHO notes that feral dogs might also harbor the virus, broadening the transmission risks. With fatality rates over 50%, the virus demands urgent attention.
Patients initially experience flu-like fever, escalating to convulsions, throat inflammation, breathing difficulties, and potentially irreversible coma. Without targeted treatments or vaccines, supportive care is the only recourse, making prevention critical.
Health experts are calling for public awareness on safe food practices, especially steering clear of wild fruits. This isolated incident serves as a stark reminder of emerging infectious threats in India, prompting renewed focus on bat habitats and zoonotic surveillance across the region.