Suspected Nipah Virus Sparks Response in West Bengal

Rapid Deployment of Expert Team

Following the identification of two suspected Nipah virus cases in West Bengal, a National Joint Outbreak Response Team has been deployed to support the state government in containment and public health management. The multidisciplinary team comprises experts from the All India Institute of Health and Public Hygiene, Kolkata, the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, the National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), Chennai, AIIMS Kalyani, and the Department of Wildlife under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.

Early Detection at AIIMS Kalyani

The suspected cases were first detected on January 11, 2026, at the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) at AIIMS Kalyani. Due to the high mortality rate and rapid transmission potential of the zoonotic Nipah virus, authorities are treating the situation with the highest level of priority.

National Guidelines and Coordination

The Central government has shared comprehensive Nipah virus guidelines with the State Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). Additionally, the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi, has been activated to oversee and coordinate the national response.

High-Level Government Engagement

Following the confirmation of the suspected cases, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, held consultations with the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (Health) of West Bengal to ensure a coordinated response. Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda also reached out to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, offering full support from the Centre and reiterating the commitment to assist in all necessary containment measures.

Technical and Operational Support to West Bengal

Official sources confirmed that the Centre is providing technical, logistical, and operational support, including:

• Laboratory assistance
• Enhanced disease surveillance
• Case management
• Infection prevention and control measures
• Expert guidance and field support

The state has been instructed to maintain close collaboration with deployed expert teams and carry out rigorous contact tracing along with other essential containment measures.

Continuous Monitoring

The Ministry of Health emphasized that the situation is being closely monitored in coordination with the Government of West Bengal, ensuring timely interventions to prevent further spread of the virus.

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Sorit Chaudhary

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