Indian health officials said a Nipah virus outbreak has been contained, as several Asian countries have heightened vigilance against its potential spread.
India’s Health Ministry said on Jan. 27 that two cases of Nipah infection have been detected in the eastern state of West Bengal since December. The ministry did not release details about the patients.
A total of 196 contacts linked to the confirmed cases have been traced and monitored, according to the ministry. All of them had tested negative.
“The situation is under constant monitoring, and all necessary public health measures are in place,” the ministry said.
Nipah virus can spread between animals and humans. Fruit bats are the natural host of the virus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but transmission can also occur through other animals such as pigs, contaminated food, and direct human-to-human contact….
India Says Nipah Outbreak Contained as Asian Neighbors Heighten Health Surveillance
