Pune lab confirms bats as source of Nipah virus detected in Kerala

Tests conducted by the National Institute of Virology in Pune traced the link of Nipah virus with two species of bats found in the house of 12-year-old boy succumbed to Nipah virus in Kozhikode district of Kerala a month ago. However, no Nipah cases were reported in the last 21 days as strict preventive measures are in place in the state. Kerala had witnessed Nipah outbreak in 2018 with 21 deaths

Thiruvananthapuram: Almost a month after a 12-year-old boy succumbed to Nipah virus in Kozhikode district of Kerala, Health Minister Veena George announced that bats can be assumed as the source of the virus. The health minister briefed the media on Wednesday.

Tests conducted by the National Institute of Virology in Pune traced the link of the virus with two species of bats found in the boy's house premises. The rest of the samples are being examined in detail, said Veena.

Heaving a sigh of relief, Veena said that no Nipah cases were reported in the last 21 days and preventive measures made the impact.

Earlier, several fruits and commercial crops, including rambutan and areca, collected from various parts of Chathamangalam panchayat, tested negative for traces of Nipah. The samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune. A central team had visited Chathamangalam to inspect the area and trace the origins of Nipah there.

Soon after reports confirmed that he died of Nipah virus, local authorities geared up to check any further spread of the deadly virus in Kozhikode and surrounding areas. They had declared a health alert in the district and cordoned off about three kilometres around the house of the deceased boy.

Kerala had witnessed Nipah outbreak in 2018 with 21 deaths.