Health officials were recently seen issuing a new warning about a latest outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus in the Indian state of West Bengal, giving rise to urgent public health action.
Several infections were said to be confirmed, including cases among healthcare workers at the private hospital near Kolkata, where nurses who cared for a patient with serious respiratory symptoms became very ill.
One of the infected nurses is said to be critically unwell, and several high-risk contacts were placed under quarantine as part of their efforts to contain the deadly virus.
Public health officials have also tested dozens of people linked to the initial cases, although many of these preliminary tests have come back to show negative results so far.
Nipah virus is known for having a high mortality rate, and the fact that there is currently no specific cure or vaccine available is what makes it alarming.
The virus is transmitted from animals to humans, specifically from fruit bats, which are outlined as the natural reservoir. The same goes for direct contact from person to person through their bodily fluids. The common symptoms include fever, headache, and respiratory distress that could swiftly progress to severe brain inflammation and fatal complications, which make early detection and isolation crucial.