Kolkata, Jan 12: The Union Health Ministry has mobilized a national outbreak response team to West Bengal following the detection of two suspected Nipah virus cases at AIIMS Kalyani. Official sources confirmed on Monday that the cases were identified at the ICMR’s Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory on January 11, triggering an immediate high-priority health alert.
Authorities are closely monitoring the India-Bangladesh border after one of the suspected patients reported a recent travel history to Ghugragachi in the Nadia district. Given the high mortality rate and rapid transmission potential of the zoonotic disease, the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) in Delhi has been activated to coordinate a nationwide response.
“The situation is being handled with utmost priority. A national joint outbreak response team has been deployed to support the state government in containment and public health response measures,” a source stated.
The expert team includes specialists from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, the National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) in Chennai, and the Department of Wildlife. Union Health Minister JP Nadda has reached out to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee via telephone and a formal letter to assure full technical and logistical support from the Centre.
“All essential resources, including laboratory support, enhanced surveillance, and expert guidance, have already been mobilised,” officials added.
The state government has been advised to initiate meticulous contact tracing and follow the specific Nipah virus guidelines shared under the communicable disease alert. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare continues to review the situation in coordination with West Bengal’s Chief Secretary to ensure swift action in the affected border regions.
