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Indian Health authorities have confirmed an outbreak of the Nipah virus in the eastern state of West Bengal, with at least five cases reported, including doctors and nurses now under treatment in hospitals across Kolkata.  At least one patient is in critical condition, and nearly 100 individuals have been placed under home quarantine as officials are moving quickly to contain the spread. India's central government has dispatched a rapid response team to oversee containment and treatment measures. Representational Image: Pubity on X The outbreak has prompted international response, with Thailand initiating health screenings at major airports for travelers arriving from West Bengal.  South Korean authorities have already designated Nipah as a first-class legally notifiable infectious disease by the time this report was being written. The Nipah virus is classified by the World Health Organization as a deadly zoonotic pathogen with no vaccine or cure. It has a high fatality rat...

Addressing the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva on Tuesday, India reaffirmed its commitment to universal health coverage and equitable access to healthcare , calling for a binding global framework that strengthens international cooperation while protecting national sovereignty. The intervention came under the Assembly’s central theme, “One World for Health.” Image Source: PIB India Delivering India’s national statement, Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava outlined the country’s expanding role in global health governance, highlighting key domestic achievements and underscoring the importance of inclusive, transparent, and equitable pandemic preparedness systems. India’s flagship initiative, Ayushman Bharat , took centre stage in the address. Srivastava noted that the scheme had expanded access to healthcare, improved infrastructure, enabled financial protection for critical treatments , and significantly accelerated digital health adoption . A recent policy expans...