According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this virus, for which there is neither a vaccine nor effective treatment, poses a serious threat. In the state of West Bengal, five cases of infection have been reported, three of which were confirmed this week. Among the infected are a doctor, a nurse, and another healthcare worker.
Two nurses working in a private clinic contracted the virus after the New Year holidays. Both experienced high fever and difficulty breathing, and one of them fell into a coma. It is believed that the infection may have been contracted while providing care to a patient who subsequently died before the test results were received.
The Indian authorities have already quarantined about 100 people to prevent further spread of the virus.
The mortality rate from the Nipah virus ranges from 40 to 70 percent, and the disease can be transmitted through bats or contaminated fruits. The main symptoms include high fever, headaches, muscle pain, and pronounced weakness. In some cases, cough, shortness of breath, and pneumonia may develop.
