Nipah in West Bengal: Centre says only two confirmed cases since December; 196 contacts traced and tested negative
The Union health ministry has clarified that only two confirmed Nipah virus disease cases have been reported in West Bengal since December. Officials said 196 contacts were identified, monitored and tested, with all traced contacts asymptomatic and testing negative, urging the public to avoid misinformation.
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- Health India Network News Desk
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Health ministry issues clarification amid rumours
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a clarification on Nipah virus disease (NiVD) reporting from West Bengal, stating that only two confirmed cases have been recorded since December to date. The ministry said speculative and incorrect figures have been circulating in sections of the media, and urged people to rely on verified updates.
Nipah is a zoonotic infection and outbreaks typically trigger heightened surveillance because of the disease’s potential severity. Public health messaging, officials said, is critical to prevent panic and ensure communities follow evidence-based precautions.
Contact tracing and testing update
According to the ministry’s update, 196 contacts linked to the confirmed cases were identified, traced, monitored and tested. All traced contacts were found asymptomatic and tested negative for Nipah virus disease, the statement said, indicating that containment measures are in place and being monitored.
Officials noted that rapid identification of contacts and timely testing are core outbreak-control tools, along with isolation protocols and infection prevention practices in healthcare settings. Coordination with state authorities remains central to executing these steps at scale.
What the public should do
- Follow advisories from official health authorities and local administration.
- Avoid forwarding unverified case counts or rumours on social media and messaging platforms.
- Seek medical advice promptly if advised by authorities or if symptomatic after exposure in a flagged area.
- Support community-level monitoring and cooperate with contact tracing teams when approached.
The ministry said it is continuing coordination with the West Bengal government and public health institutions as required, and will issue further updates based on surveillance and laboratory confirmation.