The authorities in India are actively responding to an outbreak of the Nipah virus in the state of West Bengal, where five cases have already been reported, including among healthcare workers. About one hundred people are under home quarantine, while the affected patients are receiving treatment in medical facilities in Kolkata, with the condition of one of them being assessed as critical.
The Nipah virus, which the World Health Organization classifies as a high-risk pathogen, is deadly, and there is currently no effective treatment. Bats are considered the primary carriers of the virus, but it can also be transmitted through contaminated fruits.
