Overview
- Two suspected Nipah infections were identified on January 11 at the ICMR Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory in AIIMS Kalyani, West Bengal.
- A National Joint Outbreak Response Team has been sent to support the state’s containment and public health measures.
- The expert team includes specialists from AIIPH Kolkata, NIV Pune, NIE Chennai, AIIMS Kalyani, and the Department of Wildlife.
- The NCDC’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre has been activated and Nipah guidance has been shared with the state IDSP unit, with laboratory, surveillance, case-management and infection-control support mobilised.
- Union Health Minister J P Nadda wrote to and spoke with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to assure full central support; one suspected patient had recent travel to Ghugragachi in Nadia near the India–Bangladesh border.