Health Ministry monitoring situation as two Nipah virus cases detected in West Bengal

The Union health ministry on Monday said that it is closely monitoring the situation as two suspected cases of Nipah virus have been identified in West Bengal.

The cases were identified on January 11 at the virus research and diagnostic laboratory (VRDL) ICMR, AlIMS Kalyani, West Bengal.

The State has been advised to ensure close coordination with the deployed expert teams and to undertake meticulous contact tracing and other containment measures.


“Given the serious nature of Nipah virus infection, which is a zoonotic disease with high mortality and potential for rapid spread, the situation is being handled with utmost priority,” a senior official said.

The Union health secretary held discussions with the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (Health), of West Bengal to review the situation and ensure swift and coordinated action.

A National Joint Outbreak Response Team has also been deployed to support the State Government in containment and public health response measures, the official further said.
The team comprises experts from the All India Institute of Health and Public Hygiene, Kolkata, National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), Chennai, AIIMS Kalyani and the Department of Wildlife, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

“Central Government guidelines on Nipah Virus Disease under the Communicable Disease Alert have been shared with the State Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) unit. In addition, the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi has been activated to coordinate the national response,” the official further said.

Health minister JP Nadda has also written to the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, assuring full support from the centre.
“The minister also spoke to the Chief Minister over the telephone and reiterated the Centre’s commitment to extend all necessary assistance to the State in managing the situation”.

The Government is providing comprehensive technical, logistical and operational support to the State.

“All essential resources, including laboratory support, enhanced surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control measures, and expert guidance, have already been mobilised”.