Nipah update: Health Ministry says only two confirmed Bengal cases since December; all 196 contacts test negative
The Union Health Ministry says the Nipah situation in West Bengal remains under control, with only two confirmed cases since December and no additional detections so far. Authorities say all 196 traced contacts have tested negative.
Centre pushes back on “speculative” reporting, urges calm
The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, said the Nipah virus situation in West Bengal remains under control and urged the public to rely on verified updates amid circulation of conflicting figures in sections of the media.
According to The Week, the ministry said only two confirmed Nipah Virus Disease cases have been reported from West Bengal since December, and no new cases have been detected so far.
Contact tracing outcome: 196 people tested
A crucial reassurance in the ministry’s update was the outcome of contact tracing. The ministry stated that 196 contacts linked to the confirmed cases were identified, traced, monitored and tested, and all were found asymptomatic and negative for Nipah.
This kind of finding is significant because it suggests that potential transmission chains have not expanded beyond the initial set of contacts, lowering immediate outbreak risk—though officials typically continue surveillance given Nipah’s seriousness.
Response measures continue
Authorities said enhanced surveillance, testing and field investigations are ongoing through coordinated efforts of central and state agencies. Such measures generally include infection-control checks in healthcare facilities, strict monitoring of high-risk contacts and readiness protocols for rapid isolation.
Nipah is a zoonotic infection that can cause severe disease, and public health agencies emphasise early detection and rigorous containment. The ministry’s message on January 27 is that, while vigilance remains necessary, there is no evidence of further spread at present.