Barasat Hospital Continues Normal Operations Despite Nipah Virus Scare
The high mortality rate associated with the Nipah infection has sparked widespread concern in Kolkata. However, at Barasat Hospital, the ground zero for this outbreak, daily activities proceed without major disruption. This hospital currently treats two patients confirmed with the Nipah virus.
Healthcare Workers Manage Patient Care Amid Staff Shortages
Approximately seventy healthcare workers are now in home isolation. Health authorities identified them as close contacts during the intensive tracing process. The remaining staff members diligently attend to other patients in the facility.
Hospital management made a strategic decision to prioritize emergency and critical cases. They are temporarily rationing elective surgeries due to the reduced workforce. This approach helps maintain essential services during the outbreak.
Alert Medical Team Ensures Prompt Response
Both infected individuals are twenty-five-year-old nurses, one male and one female, employed at Barasat Hospital. The treating doctors demonstrated remarkable alertness. They promptly called experts from AIIMS Kalyani to conduct confirmatory tests for the virus.
A hospital source explained their proactive measures. "We implemented all preventive and protective measures immediately when doctors suspected Nipah infection. This ensures the safety of other healthcare workers and patients while providing necessary treatment to our two nurses."
Historical Context Highlights Risks to Medical Staff
Health experts emphasize the elevated risk for healthcare workers treating contagious infections like Nipah. The 2001 Siliguri Nipah outbreak provides a sobering example. Among the forty-five fatalities, many were doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers, and hospital lift operators.
Fortunately, none of the seventy close contacts in the current situation tested positive for the virus. This group includes treating doctors and nurses. Hospital authorities identified thirteen individuals as unprotected close contacts because they shared rooms with the infected nurses.
Stringent Monitoring and Safety Protocols in Place
All close contacts remain in home isolation under continuous monitoring. Sources indicate that monitoring of the thirteen unprotected contacts is particularly stringent. The hospital maintains rigorous safety protocols to protect its staff.
Another hospital source detailed their standard precautions. "Our caregivers consistently use protective gear such as masks and gloves. They maintain strict hand hygiene as part of universal precautionary measures. We keep infectious disease patients in an isolation ward equipped with negative pressure isolation. Both patients received isolation and treatment in this specialized ward from the moment we suspected viral infection."
Hospital Management Adapts to Current Challenges
The hospital source further explained their operational strategy. "We are managing the workload with meticulous care to minimize disruption. This involves prioritizing between emergency and elective work to ensure smooth hospital operations." This careful planning allows Barasat Hospital to continue serving the community effectively during this health crisis.
