New Delhi: Suspected symptoms of Nipah virus infection have been detected in two nurses working at a private hospital in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, prompting concern among health authorities.
A senior official of the West Bengal Health Department confirmed the development, stating that the condition of both nurses—one woman and one man—is critical. According to the official, both are employed at the same hospital in Barasat.
“There is a suspicion that both nurses are infected with the Nipah virus. Their samples were sent to AIIMS Kalyani for testing, and the preliminary reports indicate a possible Nipah infection,” the official told a news agency.
The health department said one of the nurses is a resident of Nadia district, while the other hails from Katwa in Purba Bardhaman district.
Both nurses are currently admitted to the Barasat hospital where they work and have been placed in an isolation ward with ventilator support, the official added.
According to health department sources, one of the nurses had recently returned from her native place Katwa, where she fell ill. She was initially admitted to a local hospital on December 31 before her condition worsened and she was shifted to Barasat.
State health authorities said they are closely monitoring the situation and awaiting confirmatory test results while following all necessary infection control protocols.
