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https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=68247

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Nipah Virus Kills Three In West Bengal
Safety & Security
South / Central Asia - India
15 May 2007

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Virus Confirmed in Nadia District

The Nipah virus has been confirmed as the disease that killed three members of a family in early April in Nadia district (121 km from Kolkata), West Bengal. Initially thought to be a new strain of dengue, the blood samples have tested positive for Nipah virus at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, Maharashtra. The deaths occurred over a span of fifteen days since early April in the district, which borders Bangladesh.

Previous Outbreaks

Nipah virus was identified in 1999 when it caused an outbreak of neurological and respiratory disease on pig farms in peninsular Malaysia, resulting in 105 human deaths and the culling of one million pigs. The virus has a high mortality rate. In a January 2005 outbreak in Tangail district, Bangladesh, 11 of 12 cases identified resulted in fatalities (92 percent mortality). The virus, although rare, is not new to West Bengal, killing 49 people in Siliguri district in the state in 2001.

Additional Deaths

Since the three deaths mentioned above, two further deaths have been reported - one of a relative who visited the family infected with the virus and another of a health worker in a hospital in the same district. It has not been confirmed whether these two deaths were caused by the Nipah virus. Subsequently, NIV Director Dr. Mishra informed a U.S. Embassy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Officer that the other two deaths were not Nipah virus. Although the virus is known to be spread through infected fruit bats and pigs, i.e. from animal to animal and animal to human, human to human transmission cases have not been identified in this outbreak.

Local Officials Respond

District officials are on alert and a control room has been set up in Nadia to monitor the situation. Residents of Nadia and the neighboring districts have been advised to seek immediate medical advice if they develop influenza-like symptoms. Residents have also been told to avoid eating pork, as pigs, in addition to fruit bats, are potential carriers of this virus.

The Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) of Nadia district has stated that currently there are no new cases. Another Nadia district health official, Madan Basu, is reported to have said that blood samples taken from bats and pigs and even household pets (who are possible carriers of the virus) are being sent to the NIV in Pune for testing and that the district administration is keeping a close watch on the situation.