West Bengal Nipah Virus Update: Infected Nurses Recover, No New Cases Detected

The localized Nipah Virus outbreak in West Bengal, which sparked alarm earlier this month, has been officially contained. The two confirmed patients – a male and a female nurse working at a private hospital in Barasat (North 24 Parganas) – have both tested negative for the virus as of yesterday (Jan 30).

Patient Health Update:

• Male Nurse: He has fully recovered, tested negative twice, and has been discharged to home isolation.

• Female Nurse: Her condition has significantly improved. She has been taken off ventilator support and tested negative, though she remains hospitalized under close observation as a precaution.

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No Further Spread: Health authorities have successfully traced and tested 196 contacts (including family members, colleagues, and patients) who were exposed to the infected nurses. All 196 individuals have tested negative and remain asymptomatic, confirming that there has been no human-to-human transmission beyond these two cases.

International Response: While the WHO has classified the risk as “low” at the national level, neighboring countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Nepal have ramped up thermal screening for travelers arriving from Kolkata as a preventative measure. However, with the patients recovering and no new cases detected since mid-January, the immediate threat is considered over.