Two nurses affected by the Nipah virus continue to be in a critical state in West Bengal. One of them has slipped into a coma, and the other is on ventilator support at a private hospital in Barasat, where they had been working.
A doctor and a nurse who came into contact with them have been hospitalised after they developed Nipah symptoms, while several others are being screened.
Samples of the two nurses were initially tested at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences-Kalyani on Sunday (January 11, 2026). Sources told The Hindu on Wednesday (January 14, 2026) that the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, had reconfirmed their infection.
The doctor and nurse who showed Nipah symptoms were admitted to the Infectious Diseases and Beleghata General Hospital in Kolkata on Wednesday. Their samples are being sent for Nipah tests.
The source of the outbreak is not yet known.
So far, over 120 people who came into contact with the two nurses have been advised to isolate themselves. These include hospital staff, family members, and ambulance drivers. Samples from some of the contacts have been sent for testing. Three co-workers of the nurses have also been taken off duty for now. Contact tracing is being done actively across the three districts of North 24 Parganas, Bardhaman, and Nadia.
“She came home because of her cold and fever. We had no idea what else it could have been. She is our family. Of course, we lived together as families do,” a relative of one of the nurses told mediapersons.
Nipah is a zoonotic disease, which causes influenza-like symptoms including fever, muscle pain, sore throat, and respiratory problems. In cases of severe attack, it can also cause convulsions and respiratory distress. The virus can sometimes be carried by pigs.
The West Bengal government has launched helpline numbers — 03323330180, 9874708858, 9836046212 — for public queries. The government has advised people not to panic but stay alert and maintain proper hygiene.
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