A nurse infected with the Nipah virus has died on Thursday while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Barasat in North 24-Parganas in West Bengal.
The nurse had been admitted to the critical care unit for a prolonged period and developed a secondary infection in the lungs, which worsened her condition, according to hospital sources.
Another nurse who tested positive for the Nipah virus remains admitted to the same hospital and is under close medical supervision.
The state health department had earlier stated that no new Nipah cases have been detected in West Bengal.
Following the detection of the two cases, authorities initiated contact tracing to identify all individuals, who had come in contact with the infected nurses over the past few days.
Samples of all identified contacts were sent for laboratory testing, and as per the latest reports, all test results have returned negative, indicating no further spread of the virus so far.
Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease, with fruit bats identified as the primary source of infection.
The virus can spread through fruits partially eaten by bats and mixed with fresh produce. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), pigs can also act as carriers of the virus.
Human-to-human transmission is possible through contact with contaminated bedding, clothing, or other personal items used by infected individuals.
Although early symptoms of Nipah infection resemble those of a common viral fever, the disease has a high fatality rate of 50 to 60 per cent.
Health experts say recovery largely depends on the patient’s immune response, making early detection and timely medical intervention crucial.
Symptoms typically begin with fever, followed by a rapid rise in body temperature, headache and vomiting.
As the infection progresses, it can affect the brain, leading to seizures. Patients may also suffer from sore throat and severe respiratory distress. In advanced stages, patients can slip into a coma within 24 to 48 hours.
Inflammation of the brain and heart muscles has also been reported in severe cases.
There is no specific treatment protocol for Nipah virus infection, and patients are treated based on their symptoms.
The WHO has said that research on a vaccine is underway, but no approved vaccine is currently available.