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West Bengal Nipah Cluster Remains Contained as One Patient Discharged, Countries Tighten Screening

WHO rates the wider risk as low, advising against travel restrictions.

Overview

  • India has two laboratory-confirmed Nipah cases in West Bengal, both healthcare workers, with 196 traced contacts testing negative and no additional cases detected.
  • Hospital officials report one nurse has been discharged after clinical improvement, while the second patient remains in critical care on ventilatory support.
  • WHO assesses sub-national risk in the affected district as moderate but national, regional, and global risk as low, with no recommendation for travel or trade curbs.
  • Authorities in several Asian hubs, including Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal and Pakistan, have introduced airport health screening largely described as reassurance measures.
  • There is no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for Nipah, though experimental therapies and diagnostics are in development, and public-health agencies stress surveillance, infection control and transparent communication.