Indian authorities have tightened epidemic control measures in West Bengal after confirming five cases of Nipah virus infection, including among healthcare workers. According to local reports, nearly 100 people have been placed under home quarantine, while patients are receiving treatment in hospitals in Kolkata and surrounding areas.
One of the infected patients remains in critical condition. Health officials stress that Nipah virus is a highly lethal zoonotic disease, with no approved vaccine or targeted treatment currently available. The World Health Organization classifies the virus as a priority pathogen.
Human infections are rare and most commonly linked to fruit bats of the Pteropus species. Transmission usually occurs through contaminated food or close contact with infected animals. Previous outbreaks have also involved pigs as intermediate hosts.
First identified in 1999 in Malaysia and Singapore, the virus has caused several outbreaks in South Asia. In India, a major outbreak was recorded in Kerala in 2018. Fatality rates range between 40 and 75 percent, depending on outbreak conditions.
