See updated report HERE
In a follow-up on the Nipah virus (NiV) situation in West Bengal state, India, state authorities are reporting the number of confirmed cases has risen to five, as of January 23.
State officials have confirmed that nearly 100 people, who were in close contact with the infected individuals, have been quarantined and are under observation.
The three latest infections include a doctor, nurse and health worker, all linked to the same private hospital where two nurses first tested positive.
The latest patients have been transferred to the infectious diseases hospital in Beleghata, eastern Kolkata.
The outbreak, centred near the state capital of Kolkata, initially saw two nurses, one male and one female, test positive while working at a private hospital in Barasat.
"The condition of the male nurse is improving but the woman patient remains very critical. Both of them are being treated in the ICCU (Intensive Coronary Care Unit)," according to the West Bengal health department.
NiV infection is a bat-borne disease transmitted to humans through infected animals (such as bats or pigs), contaminated food or, less commonly, through close contact with infected individuals.
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Since 1998 NiV outbreaks have been reported in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore.
In India, NiV infections have occurred multiple times since 2001 with outbreaks in West Bengal State in 2001 and 2007, and in Kerala State regularly since 2018. Since 2018, Kerala has reported a total of nine NiV outbreaks.
Staff that is educated disregards such protocols put in place and look what happens..!