Some reports claimed five cases, but that is not true, Dr. Sayan Chakraborty, former West Bengal Health Advisor and infectious disease specialist, told ANI. A few suspected cases were admitted to Beleghata ID Hospital, but their test results came back negative and they have all been discharged, he added.

Explaining the containment protocol, Dr. Chakraborty said that the quarantine period for the Nipah virus is 21 days, longer than that of COVID-19, and only those who have come into direct contact with a patient are quarantined.

ANI also quoted Dr. Subarna Goswami, Deputy Assistant Director of Health Services and Superintendent of Darjeeling TB Hospital, as saying that nearly 190 contacts linked to the confirmed cases have been identified and quarantined. All test results have come back negative, he said.

Dr. Goswami cautioned against declaring the outbreak over, noting the virus’s long incubation period of up to 45 days. He said only after three months without new cases can the outbreak be considered over.