Nipah virus has once again struck in the Indian state of West Bengal. 5 cases of this dangerous virus have been reported in Barasat city near Kolkata. Taking the situation seriously, the Union Health Ministry has sent a special team to Bengal and has asked all the states to remain alert.
When and where were Nipah patients found?
The outbreak of this virus has been seen in Barasat, West Bengal. The infection was first confirmed in two nurses on January 13, 2026. After this, the scope of investigation was expanded and till January 23, a total of 5 people have been found infected. All these patients are connected to the medical staff.
Who have got the infection?
According to the information given by the Health Department, doctors and nurses are included among the infected. The details of the patients are as follows:
Post No. Nurse 3 Doctor 1 Health Worker 1
All the patients have been admitted to Belghata ID Hospital in Kolkata, where the condition of a female nurse remains critical.
What did the government do for security?
About 100 people have been kept in home quarantine to prevent the spread of the virus. These are the people who came in contact with the patients. The central government team is present at the spot and is monitoring the situation. Apart from this, countries like Thailand have started screening passengers coming from West Bengal at the airport.
How does Nipah virus spread?
Nipah is a serious virus that spreads to humans from bats or pigs. This can also happen by eating contaminated food or coming in contact with an infected person. In the current cases, it has come to light that the infection has spread inside the hospital, hence the medical staff has been advised to take special precautions.
Is there any cure for this disease?
At present there is no vaccine or definitive treatment available for Nipah virus. Doctors are treating patients based on their symptoms. The World Health Organization has considered it a high-risk virus, so prevention is the best solution.
