New Delhi, Jan. 16 -- India launched a surveillance drive following the identification of two suspected cases of Nipah virus (NiV) in West Bengal on 11 January. With two patients-both nurses-under observation at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Kalyani in West Bengal, the Central government has activated the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) in New Delhi.

A National Joint Outbreak Response Team has been deployed to prevent the spread of the virus. Given the high fatality rate and the absence of a licensed vaccine, understanding this threat is critical for public safety.

The Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus, one that spreads from animals to humans. It is considered a major public health threat because...