Bats in the Mahabaleshwar cave have antibodies against the Nipah virus

Context

Nipah virus is found in some bat species from a cave in Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra.

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research- National Institute of Virology to study the prevalence of the Nipah virus (NiV).

About Nipah Virus

• Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus, which means that it can spread between animals such as pigs and people.
• Fruit bats (flying foxes) are the animal reservoir for NiV in nature.
• NiV infection causes encephalitis (swelling of the brain). It can cause mild to severe illness and even death.
• The outbreaks occur almost every year in parts of Asia, primarily Bangladesh and India.

Transmission

• Nipah virus (NiV) can spread to people from:
• Direct contact with infected animals for example bats or pigs, or their body fluids (such as blood, urine, or saliva)
• Consuming food products that have been contaminated by body fluids of infected animals (such as palm sap or fruit contaminated by an infected bat)
• Close contact with a person infected with the virus

Previous NiV outbreaks

• NiV is on the top-10 priority list pathogens identified by the World Health Organization.
• In India, the first evidence of NiV infection was reported in Siliguri district, West Bengal in 2001, followed by Nadia district in West Bengal in 2007. The subsequent outbreaks occurred in 2018 and 2019 in Kerala.
• Indian states are considered to be the hotspots for NiV.
• Pteropusmedius bats, Rousettusleschenaultii, and Pipistrellus Pipistrellus bats in Maharashtra are a carrier of the NiV.
  • RNA samples and Anti-NiVIgG antibodies were detected from these bats.
  • Pteropusmedius bats are large fruit-eating bats.

Prevention

• Avoiding exposure to sick pigs and bats in areas
• Avoid drinking raw date palm sap which can be contaminated by an infected bat.
• Standard infection control practices during an outbreak.