The Indian authorities have increased safety response to contain the Nipah virus outbreak in Bengal, resulting in five people testing positive for the virus. According to a report by Independent, nearly 100 have been asked to remain in home quarantine as a precautionary measure.
These cases have been identified in Barasat, near Kolkata, and other surrounding areas.
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According to PTI, the first two confirmed cases consisted of a male and a female nurse who worked together at a private hospital in Barasat, in North 24-Parganas district. They are now in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while three additional confirmed cases have also been admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital located in Beleghata. Of the additional cases, one is a doctor, one nurse and one member from the healthcare staff.
Health alert
Quoting PTI, Financial Express reported a senior Bengal Health department official saying, "The condition of the male nurse is improving, but the female patient remains very critical. Both are being treated in the Intensive Coronary Care Unit (ICCU)."
While the male nurse is now clinically stable, able to walk and talk, and being fed, the female nurse remains comatose and continues to receive high-dose antibiotics and antiviral treatment, said sources at Barasat hospital.
"Another set of samples of the male nurse is being sent for the consecutive test. If the result shows negative, then he can be shifted out of the isolation ICU. But he should be kept under observation for a few more days before being discharged," a state health official said.
Virus symptoms
Most individuals experience influenza-like symptoms, such as fever, headaches, coughs, sore throats and body aches, during the first four to 14 days after becoming ill. Some of these symptoms can progress into more severe ones, affecting the brain function that lead to confusion, drowsiness, disorientation, seizures and potentially coma.
Protocol requires testing samples from infected individuals every 10 days. If two samples taken 24 hours apart test negative, patients can be discharged if they are clinically stable.
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Accordingly, throat swab, urine and blood samples from the two nurses at Barasat hospital were sent to NIV Pune on Wednesday, as per a Times of India report.
Why is Nipah a serious concern?
Nipah virus is classified as a priority pathogen by the World Health Organisation (WHO) because of its potential to cause epidemics. There is currently no vaccine or treatment for it. The virus is zoonotic, meaning it spreads between animals and people.
It is mainly associated with certain bat species and can spill over to humans through contact with bats, such as eating contaminated fruit.
