Fruit bats, notably the Pteropus species, are recognized as the first reservoir of the Nipah virus. These bats are identified to harbour the virus with out exhibiting signs, making them silent carriers. Research carried out by the Nationwide Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune have discovered Nipah virus antibodies in samples collected from fruit bats in areas like Kozhikode, connecting the hyperlink between these mammals and the virus.
Fruit bats can shed the virus of their saliva, urine, and faeces. When these excretions come into contact with fruits, the virus may be transmitted to people who eat the contaminated produce. This was evident within the latest Malappuram case, the place the boy’s consumption of hog plum fruit, a identified favorite of fruit bats, led to his an infection.
How fruit bats have an effect on people?
The transmission of the Nipah virus from bats to people sometimes happens by means of the consumption of fruits contaminated by bat excretions. Contaminated fruit bats also can transmit the virus to different animals, similar to pigs, canines, and cats, which may then act as intermediate hosts, additional spreading the virus to people. This zoonotic transmission pathway has been noticed in a number of outbreaks, together with the notable ones in Kozhikode in 2018 and 2023.
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As soon as the virus infects people, it may trigger extreme respiratory and neurological signs, together with fever, headache, dizziness, and in extreme circumstances, encephalitis resulting in coma or loss of life. The excessive mortality charge related to Nipah virus infections, starting from 40% to 75%, relying on the outbreak, makes it a very lethal pathogen.
Stopping Nipah virus an infection from contaminated fruits
Given the numerous threat posed by fruit bats, you will need to undertake preventive measures to cut back the probability of Nipah virus an infection. Listed here are some sensible steps to guard your self and your loved ones:
- Keep away from consuming fallen or unwashed fruits: By no means eat fruits which have fallen to the bottom or present indicators of bat bites or different harm. At all times wash fruits totally earlier than consumption to take away any potential contaminants.
- Retailer fruits correctly: Hold fruits in closed containers to stop contamination by bats. Keep away from leaving fruits uncovered in areas the place bats are identified to roost.
- Wash your fingers with cleaning soap and water after dealing with fruits or being in areas frequented by bats. This easy step can considerably scale back the chance of an infection.
- Defend pets and livestock: Make sure that pets and livestock should not have entry to areas the place fruit bats are current. This could forestall secondary transmission of the virus from animals to people.
