16/01/2026
๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ก ๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ค ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ
An outbreak of Nipah virus infection has been confirmed in West Bengal, India, with five active cases, mainly among healthcare workers and close contacts.
Some early cases are linked to possible exposure to contaminated fruit or raw date palm sap.
The World Health Organisation(WHO)has not declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International concern, assessing the risk as moderate.
Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals such as fruit bats to humans and can also spread through close human contact.
It can cause severe respiratory illness and brain inflammation.
The Ministry of Health has advised the public to avoid contact with fruit bats and sick animals, refrain from consuming raw date palm sap or contaminated fruits, maintain hand hygiene, avoid close contact with sick individuals, and wear masks in crowded places.