In an eastern Indian state, a grim chapter of the Nipah virus saga continues to unfold. A senior health official from West Bengal confirmed on Thursday that one of two confirmed cases had succumbed to the deadly illness, marking another loss among India’s recent outbreak victims.
The nurse contracted the virus in December and was already critically ill when she sought medical care at a local hospital. Her death due to cardiac arrest was reported by Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam to Reuters. The Nipah virus is typically transmitted from infected bats or contaminated fruit, leading to symptoms like high fever, respiratory issues, and inflammation of the brain.
India has seen sporadic outbreaks in recent years, with Kerala being one of the highest-risk regions globally for this pathogen. Following these new cases, countries such as Thailand, Singapore, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have implemented enhanced airport screening measures. Despite these precautions, the World Health Organization (WHO) downplayed the risk of international transmission.
In a separate but related incident, WHO officials announced that another woman in Bangladesh had died from contracting Nipah in January. The virus remains classified as a priority pathogen by the organization due to its potential for outbreaks and severe complications including respiratory illness and brain inflammation. To date, there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment available for this disease.
These updates highlight the ongoing threat of the Nipah virus across various regions and underscore the critical need for global vigilance and health protocols in preventing further spread.