Indian health authorities say they have managed to swiftly contain the spread of the highly dangerous Nipah virus after confirming two infections in the eastern state of West Bengal since December. Officials moved to downplay earlier claims that five people had been infected, stressing that investigations confirmed only two cases linked to the outbreak. Officials said the situation remains under constant observation, with public health protocols continuing to be enforced to prevent any resurgence. India recorded its first Nipah outbreak in West Bengal in 2001, placing the region among areas with prior exposure to the virus. More recently, Kerala experienced a deadly outbreak in 2018 that claimed at least 17 lives, followed by two further deaths linked to Nipah in the state in 2023.