The Meghalaya Government has sounded an alert following reports of a Nipah virus outbreak in neighbouring West Bengal, with authorities clarifying that no cases have been reported in Meghalaya so far. Amid growing concern over the highly contagious virus in the eastern region, the State Health Department has been directed to closely monitor the situation and stay alert.
Meghalaya Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla said the State is exercising caution as there is no cause for alarm at this stage. The Minister said the government does not want to create panic without conclusive evidence, “We have asked the health department to be on High alert, as of now we have heard the news as of now we haven’t received any report. We cannot just jump into the conclusion and cannot create panic situation, for that we need conclusive evidence and report, for that for time being no doubt we are in high alert, but at the same time we don’t want to create panic situation in State. We have directed the health department to look into the situation at the neighboring states, they have to be on High alert.”
Health officials in Meghalaya have been instructed to remain vigilant and continuously track developments in affected areas.
At the national level, the country has said that only two confirmed cases of the virus have been recorded in West Bengal, even as authorities in some Asian countries have ramped up surveillance measures, especially at airports. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said official data showed no additional cases beyond the two confirmed infections reported since December last year. The Ministry also said that 196 people identified as contacts of the infected patients were traced, monitored and tested, and all were found to be asymptomatic and tested negative for the virus.
