A pall of anxiety has descended over West Bengal amid fears of a possible outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus, with three nurses currently being treated as suspected cases. Two of them are reportedly on
ventilator support, while a third nurse was admitted late on Tuesday night to Kolkata’s Beliaghata’s Infectious Diseases (ID) Hospital, where she has been placed in an isolation ward. Health authorities have launched intensive contact-tracing operations.
According to sources, Ghoghragachi village in Krishnaganj block of Nadia district is suspected to be the origin of the infection. Initial assessments suggest the virus may have spread from this border village close to Bangladesh. A detailed report submitted by AIIMS Kalyani has flagged this concern, pointing to the village’s proximity to areas across the border such as Chuadanga and parts of Kushtia in Bangladesh, where Nipah cases have reportedly been rising for some time.
Health officials have noted that infrared surveillance in these regions has captured fruit bats drinking raw date palm sap, a known risk factor for Nipah transmission. Last month, on December 15, a nurse from a private hospital in Barasat reportedly attended a family wedding in Ghoghragachi village. It is suspected that she consumed raw date palm sap during her visit. Experts say fruit bats are particularly attracted to date palm sap during this season and often contaminate it with saliva, urine or faeces while feeding, which can transmit the virus to humans.
Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty addressed the situation during a press conference on Monday, confirming that the suspected cases were being closely monitored. “This virus comes from bats, as you know. So people must be careful about what bats eat and what humans consume,” she said. She also revealed that both critically ill nurses had travelled to East Bardhaman, prompting authorities to widen the scope of contact tracing.
The state government has set up dedicated helpline numbers – 03323330180 and 9874708858 – for public assistance and reporting. Following the developments, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spoke to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, who assured full support from the Centre. A team of expert doctors from Delhi has since been dispatched to assist the state health machinery.
Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that primarily spreads from animals to humans. Fruit bats are the natural carriers of the virus and shed it through urine, saliva and faeces. Humans can get infected by consuming contaminated food items such as raw date palm sap or fruits partially eaten by bats, or through direct contact with infected animals like bats or pigs. Once a person is infected, the virus can spread through close contact with bodily fluids, making family members and healthcare workers particularly vulnerable.
The initial symptoms of Nipah infection usually appear between 4-14 days after exposure and include fever, headache, cough, sore throat and breathing difficulties. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea, along with muscle pain and extreme weakness, may also occur.
In severe cases, the infection can lead to encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, which can prove fatal. The mortality rate of Nipah virus is estimated to range between 40-75%, and the virus can cause severe damage to the nervous system.
Health officials have urged people to avoid consuming raw date palm sap and fruits showing signs of animal bites, to wash fruits thoroughly, and to boil sap before consumption. The public has also been advised to avoid contact with bats and sick animals and to maintain strict hygiene, especially while caring for infected individuals.
