№20859[Quote]
Indian health officials are working to contain an outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus that was recorded in West Bengal, a situation that has been confirmed by the Thai government and India’s National Center for Disease Control.
There are two cases that have been reported, involving two nurses at a private hospital near Kolkata, West Bengal, The Telegraph and The Independent reported.
So far, 180 people have been tested and 20 individuals have been asked to quarantine, both reports continued.
One patient is reported to be in critical condition, Narayan Swaroop Nigam, principal secretary of the health and family welfare department in West Bengal, told The Telegraph.
Officials noted the outbreak is “not major.” However, it has still prompted high-priority responses from officials.
No travel bans to India are currently in place, but neighboring countries have begun tracking and prevention regulations that are similar to those used during the COVID-19 pandemic, as reported by The Independent.
In response to the outbreak, Thailand’s Department of Disease Control issued a press release Friday stating that officials will “monitor and screen travelers at international communicable disease control checkpoints.”