‘No new Nipah detection’: Union Health Ministry confirms only two cases in WB since December

New Delhi: Only two confirmed cases of Nipah Virus Disease (NiVD) have been reported from West Bengal since December last year, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday, based on inputs from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The Ministry cautioned that speculative and inaccurate figures related to NiVD cases are being circulated in sections of the media and urged the public to depend solely on verified information issued by official sources, while avoiding the spread of unconfirmed reports.

According to the Ministry, after the confirmation of the two cases, the Centre worked closely with the West Bengal government to roll out immediate and comprehensive public health interventions in line with established protocols.

"A total of 196 contacts linked to the confirmed cases have been identified, traced, monitored and tested. All traced contacts have been found asymptomatic and have tested negative for Nipah Virus Disease," the Ministry said in a statement.

It added that enhanced surveillance, laboratory testing and field-level investigations were carried out through coordinated efforts between Central and state health authorities, enabling effective containment.

"No additional Nipah Virus Disease cases have been detected so far," the Ministry said, noting that the situation continues to be closely monitored and that all necessary public health safeguards remain in place.

PTI