Nipah virus: 82 quarantined, 10 doctors sent on home isolation in Burdwan

Eighty-two persons, who came into either direct or indirect contact with a Nipah virus-affected nursing staff member have been quarantined in East Burdwan over the past 24 hours.

Samples of 14 persons, including physicians and nurses from Katwa Sub-Divisional Hospital and Burdwan Medical College and Hospital (BMCH), have been collected and sent to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Kalyani, for testing. Dr Joyram Hembram said: “Further samples from four other physicians were collected at Katwa Hospital today and sent to AIIMS, Kalyani. However, we are yet to receive the reports.”

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A house staff member of BMCH who attended the Nipah-affected nurse at Barasat Hospital developed mild symptoms and has been shifted to Beleghata after samples were drawn. Another nursing staff member from Memari also showed mild symptoms of Nipah infection and has been quarantined. Ten other physicians and medical staff from BMCH and Katwa have been sent to home isolation, and 22 fresh samples from close contacts were sent to AIIMS, Kalyani, on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, has confirmed Nipah infection in both samples of two Barasat Hospital nurses, whose conditions remain critical.

One of the two nurses hails from Katwa town. After she fell ill, she was first taken to Katwa Sub-Divisional Hospital and then referred to BMCH. As her condition deteriorated further, she was shifted to Barasat Hospital, where she is employed as a staff nurse. Prior to this, she had travelled to Konarpur village in Mongalkote block, where 48 persons who came into close contact with her or her family members were identified and quarantined. “A further 34 persons who had contact with the BMCH staff nurse have been identified. In total, 82 persons have been quarantined,” Dr Hembram, the CMOH, told The Statesman. Contact tracing is still in progress, he added.