Nurse dies after recovering from Nipah in Bengal's Barasat

A 25-year-old nurse who recovered from a Nipah virus infection died of cardiac arrest on Thursday at a private hospital in Barasat

Published on: Feb 13, 2026, 06:23:45 IST

By Ridhima Gupta, New Delhi

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A 25-year-old nurse who had recovered from a Nipah virus infection died of cardiac arrest on Thursday at a private hospital in Barasat in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, a senior state health department official said. The nurse, a resident of Katwa in Purba Bardhaman district, had remained in a prolonged coma for several weeks.

The 25-year-old had first developed symptoms in early January after returning home on December 31 for the New Year holidays. (Picture for representation)

The 25-year-old had first developed symptoms in early January after returning home on December 31 for the New Year holidays. Initially admitted to Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, she was later shifted to the private facility in Barasat as her condition worsened.

Her illness followed days after a male colleague exhibited similar symptoms. Following tests on January 11 it was confirmed Nipah infection in both cases. Both nurses slipped into a coma and required ventilator support. While the male nurse gradually recovered and was discharged about a week ago, her condition remained unstable.

“Out of the two Nipah positive cases reported from West Bengal on 11th January, 2026, one of the nurses who was critically ill and was under intensive medical care passed away today due to cardiac arrest in the hospital where she was under treatment,” said officials of the health department.

“At present there are no active Nipah cases in the state,” the official said.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has assessed the risk of wider transmission as low. Addressing a media briefing in Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “In the past few weeks, three cases of Nipah, two in India and one in Bangladesh, made headlines and caused concern about a wider outbreak.” WHO assessed the risk of spread of the Nipah virus regionally and globally and found it low, he added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ridhima Gupta
Ridhima Gupta is a Principal Correspondent at Hindustan Times, where she covers healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and public health policy. Her reporting centers on Delhi’s major hospitals (AIIMS, Safdarjung, Lok Nayak), the state health department, and emerging medical trends. Ridhima is particularly interested in reporting on healthcare issues through the lens of women, children, and persons with disabilities. Her work often explores the intersection of healthcare and public policy, examining how these factors shape access health care. Based in New Delhi, many of her reports have led to direct government action over the years, in different city. Earlier this year, she completed a media training workshop on the Impact of Extreme Heat on Health, organised by the Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC), further strengthening her interest in reporting on the intersection of climate change and public health. A postgraduate from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Ridhima has around a decade of experience in journalism. She began her career as a trainee television reporter with Mirror Now in Mumbai and has since worked across multiple cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi, contributing to both print and broadcast newsrooms. She is a recipient of the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022) for her reporting on education, disability, and women’s issues. Before joining Hindustan Times, Ridhima worked with The Times of India, New Indian Express and News18. A native of Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, Ridhima completed her undergraduate studies in Biotechnology. And when she is not working as a journalist she likes to paint and go on nature hikes.Read More

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