Overview
- Two nurses are hospitalized in isolation, with a male patient improving and a female patient in very critical condition, according to a senior state health official.
- Blood samples from both patients have been sent to two specialised labs, and officials say confirmation of Nipah infection is pending.
- Preliminary investigation points to a possible exposure during a work-related visit to Purba Bardhaman, though the exact source and transmission route remain unclear.
- The West Bengal government has issued guidelines mandating immediate isolation of suspected cases, strict PPE-based infection control, and contact tracing.
- Neighboring states including Tamil Nadu and Odisha have strengthened surveillance, as experts advise avoiding raw date-palm sap and fallen or bitten fruits and limiting contact with bats and sick animals.