Kolkata Nipah Situation Shows Positive Signs
Health officials in Kolkata report encouraging developments in the Nipah virus situation. Samples from two patients admitted at Beliaghata ID Hospital and approximately forty close contacts have returned negative results for the Nipah virus. This news brings relief amid the recent scare.
Improving Conditions for Affected Nurses
The condition of the 25-year-old male nurse is showing clear improvement. Medical staff removed him from ventilator support on Thursday. He is now responding well to ongoing treatment protocols.
Doctors at Barasat Hospital also express cautious optimism. The female nurse, who was in a critical state, has started responding to medical interventions. She shows signs of neurological activity, including attempts to open her eyes in response to stimulation.
"The male nurse who required ventilation has been successfully extubated," confirmed sources at Barasat Hospital. "His recovery is progressing. The female patient, while still on ventilation, is demonstrating responses. This is a crucial and positive step."
Current Case Status and Medical Response
To date, West Bengal has confirmed only two positive Nipah cases. Both are nurses from Barasat Hospital. The National Institute of Virology in Pune verified their infections.
A specialized medical team is managing their care. This team includes a pulmonologist, a neurologist, and a critical care specialist. The state health department has deployed additional support to assist with their treatment.
The female nurse's condition was initially more severe, as she had fallen into a coma. Her recent responsiveness marks a significant turn in her clinical journey.
Details on Patients at Beliaghata ID Hospital
The two individuals under observation at Beliaghata ID Hospital remain in stable condition. Their cases provide important context for contact tracing and monitoring.
- Young Doctor: One patient is a 27-year-old doctor from Burdwan Hospital. He had direct exposure while assisting with the intubation of the female nurse on January 4th, before her Nipah infection was known. After developing a fever a week later, health officials admitted him to the infectious diseases hospital. His fever and general malaise have subsided, though he experiences a cough and mild chest discomfort. He has a history of hypertension but is stable under close monitoring.
- Elderly Woman: The other patient is a woman in her sixties from Nadia district. Notably, she has no reported contact with any confirmed Nipah patient. She was referred by a private doctor after showing symptoms, which may be linked to her consumption of raw palm date sap—a known risk factor. She has pre-existing comorbidities, including diabetes.
Expanded Testing and Surveillance
The young doctor was among thirty-eight close contacts identified and traced from Burdwan Hospital. All were placed in home isolation as a precautionary measure. The broader testing of contacts, yielding negative results, helps health authorities map the outbreak's scope.
In a separate instance, two samples sent from a private hospital near EM Bypass also tested negative. These patients had displayed symptoms resembling Nipah infection, prompting the tests.
These developments indicate that containment and monitoring efforts are actively underway. The healthcare system continues to manage confirmed cases while vigilantly testing suspected ones to prevent further spread.
