India rushes to contain deadly Nipah virus outbreak after five cases confirmed

Indian authorities are rushing to contain a Nipah virus outbreak after five cases were reported and nearly 100 people quarantined in the eastern state of West Bengal.

Three new infections were reported earlier this week, authorities said, adding to two existing cases of nurses, one male and one female, who had earlier tested positive. The nurses were working at a private hospital in Barasat near the state capital of Kolkata.

The new confirmed cases included a doctor, a nurse, and a health staff member, news wire agency Press Trust of India reported.

Nipah virus, which spreads between animals and people, is classified as a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization (WHO) because of its potential to trigger an epidemic. There is no vaccine to prevent infection and no treatment to cure it.

Nearly 100 people have been asked to quarantine in their homes after the first case came to light on Monday, the government officials said.