Odisha was placed on alert on Wednesday following reports of suspected Nipah virus infections in neighbouring West Bengal, raising concerns about potential spread due to frequent inter-state movement.
Two nurses at a private hospital in North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, have shown symptoms consistent with Nipah virus. Preliminary medical reports suggest the symptoms match those associated with the virus, and their samples have been sent to AIIMS for confirmation.
No Nipah cases have been detected in Odisha so far, but the situation has prompted health authorities to intensify monitoring and preparedness. A national-level joint infection response team has been set up to contain the suspected outbreak in West Bengal.
The Nipah virus can spread from animals, contaminated food, or via direct human-to-human contact, including exposure to saliva, urine, blood, or excreta. Symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, diarrhoea, vomiting, muscle pain, and breathing difficulties. Severe cases may lead to coma.
Health experts advise maintaining proper hand hygiene and avoiding contact with infected pigs and bats. Authorities are treating the situation as a top priority due to the virus’s high fatality rate and rapid transmission potential.
About Nipah Virus:
First identified in Malaysia’s Kampung Sungai Nipah in 1998–99, Nipah is a zoonotic infection, primarily carried by fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family. Pigs can act as intermediary hosts. Early symptoms resemble flu, while severe cases can cause respiratory failure, seizures, brain inflammation, or encephalitis. Some individuals may carry the virus without showing symptoms.
