In Kolkata, specialists from the National Institute of Medical Research have begun selective testing for the Nipah virus among bats, as reported by NDTV. This decision was made after two cases of infection among medical workers were identified in West Bengal in mid-January. Currently, the infected individuals are in isolation at the Barasat hospital and are connected to a mechanical ventilator.
According to information, the study is being conducted using PCR testing at the Alipore Zoo, located in the southern part of Kolkata. The medical team is collecting blood samples and swabs from bats to determine if they are carriers of the dangerous virus.
Additionally, a group of experts plans to travel to various regions of the state where bats reside to collect further samples.
The World Health Organization classifies the Nipah virus as one of the most dangerous diseases in the world, as there is currently no vaccine or treatment for it. The virus causes severe illnesses such as fever and encephalopathy, with a fatality rate ranging from 40 to 75%. The virus is transmitted not through the air but through direct contact with the biological fluids of the infected.
The main carriers of the virus are flying foxes and bats. Humans can become infected by consuming fruits that have been contaminated with the saliva of infected animals, as well as through contact with domestic pets.
Previously, India has recorded four outbreaks of Nipah disease: in 2001 and 2007 in West Bengal, and in 2018 and 2019 in the state of Kerala.
