• Nipah virus detected among health staff in West Bengal, India

    Five Nipah virus cases have been reported in West Bengal, India, as of late January 2026, including doctors and nurses. The virus, which spreads from fruit bats to humans and between people, has prompted state authorities to quarantine more than 100 contacts and conduct field surveillance in affected districts. There is currently no licensed vaccine or antiviral treatment, and containment measures focus on isolation and contact tracing.

  • Severe Cyclonic Storm “Dana” makes landfall in Odisha, India

    Tropical Cyclone “Dana” swept across the Odisha coast early Friday, October 25, 2024, after making landfall near Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamara, bringing intense winds of up to 120 km/h (75 mph) and rainfall across Odisha and West Bengal. Extremely heavy rainfall is forecast for several regions with Red, Yellow, and Orange warnings in effect for over 100 districts across Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

  • 1.5 million evacuating ahead of Severe Cyclonic Storm “Dana” landfall in Odisha, India

    Severe Cyclonic Storm “Dana” has intensified and is expected to make landfall over the north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island, close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamara, between 18:00 UTC on October 24 and 00:00 UTC on October 25, 2024, with a wind speed of 100 – 110 km/h (62 – 68 mph), gusting to 120 km/h (74.6 mph).