Bats Might Not be Behind Nipah Outbreak: Central Team

KOZHIKODE:
Bats might not be the cause of the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala’s Kozhikode district, according to a team of the Department of Animal Husbandry that visited Changaroth village in the district.
The bats found in the premises of the family that lost three members to the outbreak were unlikely to be the cause of the disease, the central team has said. While a final report will be out only on May 25, the teams’ initial assessment is that the bats found in the house are not fruit eaters. Only fruit-eating bats can carry the Nipah virus. Animal Husbandry Commissioner Dr. Suresh S. Honnappagol said the widespread hunting of bats will only worsen the situation. The team said there was no need to panic about the outbreak.