Kolkata, Jan 14: The detection of two suspected Nipah virus cases in West Bengal has put health authorities on alert, prompting the Centre to deploy a National Joint Outbreak Response Team to support containment and public health measures.
Doctors said that the Nipah virus is rare, unpredictable and can be deadly.
On Wednesday, they said that awareness and early action are crucial to prevent its spread.
Dr Rakesh Pandit said Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can spread from animals to humans.
“Fruit bats are the natural carriers of the virus. People can get infected by consuming contaminated food or through close physical contact with infected individuals,” he said.
He said, “Past outbreaks have shown that the virus can also spread from human to human, particularly in healthcare and household settings. From fever and respiratory symptoms to neurological complications, the illness can take many different forms. Patients may experience encephalitis, a potentially fatal brain inflammation, in more advanced cases.”
Doctors pointed out that while Nipah does not spread as fast as airborne infections like Covid-19 or influenza, it is highly contagious in situations involving close and prolonged contact.
Dr Sushrut Ganpule, Consultant Pulmonologist, Pune, said, “Medical personnel and caregivers are particularly at a higher risk in the absence of stringent infection control procedures. Because of this, preventing secondary transmission requires early detection and isolation. Previous infections with the virus have resulted in up to 75 per cent of deaths, making it deadlier than the majority of viral infections. The illness is life-threatening, and survivors may experience long-term neurological problems like seizures and personality changes.” (IANS)
