Bhubaneswar: Odisha placed itself under alert on Wednesday after two nurses at a private hospital in neighbouring West Bengal have tested positive for Nipah virus.
With thousands of people traveling daily between West Bengal and Odisha, concerns have risen about possible transmission across state borders. Officials in Odisha have stepped up surveillance at hospitals and transport hubs, though no Nipah cases have been detected in the state so far.
Sources said the samples of the two nurses in Bengal which were sent from Barasat in North 24 Parganas district to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Kalyani in Nadia district confirmed their contraction of the deadly virus. A National Joint Infection Response Team has been formed to contain the potential outbreak.
The two nurses remain in critical condition and are battling for their lives in West Bengal. While one of them has slipped into a coma, the other has been put on ventilator support. Authorities have put places inhabited by them on high alert
including their native locations such as Nadia and Vardhaman. All individuals who came in contact with the nurses have been placed under quarantine.
The Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that can spread through infected animals such as bats and pigs, contaminated food or direct human contact via saliva, urine, blood or feces. Symptoms typically include fever, headache, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle pain and breathing difficulties, and in severe cases, the infection can lead to coma and death. Health experts are urging the public to practice regular hand washing, avoid consumption of partially eaten fruits and minimize contact with bats and pigs.
While the Odisha government is yet to issue an official statement on the steps being taken, sources said hospitals in the state have been instructed to remain vigilant, isolate suspected cases promptly and report any unusual clusters of illness.
The situation is being closely monitored by both state and central health authorities, as Odisha braces for preventive measures to ensure the virus does not spread beyond West Bengal. Steps are also being taken to launch an awareness drive to about the menace.
Health experts have advised people to maintain proper hand hygiene and avoid contact with infected pigs and bats to reduce the risk of infection.
Health authorities are treating the development as a top priority due to the severity of Nipah virus disease.