Jharkhand issues Nipah virus advisory after West Bengal cases
Jharkhand is on alert after two Nipah virus cases popped up in neighboring West Bengal.
While there are no local cases yet, the state's health department wants districts to step up checks because the virus spreads easily and can be deadly.
What's the Nipah virus and why worry?
Nipah usually jumps from fruit bats to people through contaminated fruit or raw date palm sap, but it can also spread person-to-person.
Early symptoms feel like a bad flu—fever, headache, cough—but things can get serious fast with severe neurological complications (for example, seizures) or coma.
How Jharkhand is responding
The state has rolled out extra screening at borders and told hospitals to watch for symptoms.
Isolation beds are ready at RIMS (22 beds) and Sadar Hospital (with more if needed).
All suspected cases must be promptly reported to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).
What you should do
Health officials say: skip fallen fruits and raw palm sap for now, avoid close contact with anyone sick, wash your hands often, and see a doctor early if you feel unwell.
Staying informed helps everyone stay safer—especially near border areas where risk is higher.