India, Jan. 13 -- NEW DELHI, January 13 - A National Joint Outbreak Response Team was deployed to West Bengal on Sunday after two suspected cases of the deadly Nipah virus were identified. The central government is coordinating urgently with state authorities to contain a potential outbreak of the high-fatality pathogen.

Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly lethal zoonotic pathogen from the Henipavirus genus. It causes severe respiratory illness and fatal brain inflammation (encephalitis), with a mortality rate between 40% and 75%. As a Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) pathogen, it is classified as a top-risk agent due to the absence of a licensed vaccine or specific treatment.

India is actively managing suspected cases in West Bengal in January 2026...