Two Suspected Nipah Virus Cases Detected in West Bengal; National Response Activated

Two suspected Nipah virus cases were detected on January 11, 2026, at the ICMR Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory at AIIMS Kalyani, West Bengal. The patients, a male and a female nurse working at the same private hospital in Barasat, are in critical condition on ventilator support. The Centre has deployed a National Joint Outbreak Response Team comprising experts from multiple institutes to assist the state government with containment, contact tracing, and public health measures. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, with surveillance extended to districts including North 24 Parganas, Purba Bardhaman, and Nadia. The virus, a zoonotic infection with a high fatality rate and no specific treatment or vaccine, has previously caused outbreaks in West Bengal and Kerala. The government urges calm, emphasizing strict infection control and public awareness to prevent further spread.