Two suspected cases of Nipah virus disease have been detected at the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) of ICMR at AIIMS Kalyani in West Bengal, prompting heightened concern due to the severity of the infection. Government sources told India Today TV that the situation is being treated with the highest level of urgency, as Nipah is a zoonotic disease known for its high mortality rate and potential for rapid human-to-human transmission if not swiftly contained.
Following confirmation of the suspected cases, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, immediately held consultations with the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary (Health) of the Government of West Bengal. These discussions focused on reviewing the evolving situation on the ground and ensuring that prompt, coordinated, and effective measures were put in place to prevent further spread of the virus.
To strengthen containment and public health response efforts, a National Joint Outbreak Response Team has been deployed to assist the state authorities. The team includes specialists and technical experts from the All India Institute of Health and Public Hygiene in Kolkata, the National Institute of Virology in Pune, the National Institute of Epidemiology in Chennai, AIIMS Kalyani, and the Department of Wildlife under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Their role is to provide on-ground expertise, guide surveillance activities, and support containment strategies.
The central government has also shared detailed guidelines on the management of Nipah Virus Disease under the Communicable Disease Alert framework with the State Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme unit. In parallel, the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre at the National Centre for Disease Control in Delhi has been activated to coordinate and monitor the national-level response and ensure seamless communication between central and state agencies.
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda has formally written to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, assuring her of full and unconditional support from the Centre. In addition to the written communication, Nadda also spoke to the Chief Minister over the telephone, reiterating the Union government’s commitment to extend all necessary assistance to the state in handling the situation effectively.
The Government of India is currently providing comprehensive technical, logistical, and operational support to West Bengal. This includes enhanced laboratory services, strengthened disease surveillance, clinical case management support, infection prevention and control measures, and continuous expert guidance from national institutions. Officials said that all essential resources required to manage a potential outbreak have already been mobilised.
The state government has been advised to maintain close coordination with the deployed expert teams and to carry out rigorous contact tracing, monitoring, and containment measures. Authorities have emphasized that early detection, strict surveillance, and coordinated action between the Centre and the state will be crucial in preventing the spread of the Nipah virus and ensuring public safety.
