Jharkhand Health Dept Steps Up Nipah Vigilance After Cases In West Bengal, Issues Advisory
The Jharkhand Health Department has issued a statewide advisory directing all district civil surgeons and health authorities to strengthen surveillance, screening, and preparedness measures for the Nipah virus, following confirmed cases in neighbouring West Bengal.
While Jharkhand has not reported any confirmed infections, the advisory aims to prevent the virus from spreading into the state. District authorities have been instructed to enhance monitoring of travellers and patients arriving from affected areas and to report suspected cases promptly to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).
Hospitals are being prepared with dedicated isolation beds, particularly in major facilities such as the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi, and healthcare workers have been advised to strictly follow infection prevention and control measures, including the use of personal protective equipment and protocols for handling suspected viral infections.
The advisory emphasizes the need for coordination between state and district authorities to ensure laboratories are equipped for testing and confirmation of suspected cases. Surveillance is to include monitoring potential animal reservoirs, particularly fruit bats, which are natural carriers of the virus.
Nipah virus is a zoonotic pathogen capable of transmission from animals to humans and through close human contact. Infections can cause fever, headache, respiratory distress, and severe neurological complications, and are associated with high mortality rates, making early detection and containment crucial.
The health department has also instructed hospitals to maintain readiness for intensive care support, ensure adequate medical supplies, and train staff in infectious disease management, while calling for interdepartmental coordination to facilitate the safe transfer of suspected cases.
Officials stressed that these measures are preventive in nature, aimed at containing any potential outbreak early, and underscored the importance of public cooperation in reporting symptoms, avoiding contact with wild animals such as bats, and following hygiene protocols.
The advisory represents Jharkhand’s latest step in heightening vigilance against Nipah virus and complements ongoing efforts in eastern India to monitor, detect, and manage the disease.
