In India, bats have signs of a deadly virus

Scientists from India's National Institute of Virology have for the first time detected antibodies to the deadly nipah virus in bats, according to a preprint paper on the results of the study.

They caught mice of two species in a cave near the city of Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra). As a result, antibodies were found in 33 of 56 mice of one species and one of four mice of another.

“Repeated outbreaks, high mortality rates, human-to-human transmission and lack of effective vaccines/antivirals are of great concern in India as bat congregations are very common in areas where there are many people,” the scientists said.

At the same time, scientists noted that further research is needed in order to understand how actively the virus is circulating in the country.

The nipah virus is classified by the World HEALTH Organization (WHO) as one of the most dangerous. it is transmitted to people from animals, as well as from an infected person to other people. According to WHO, the disease caused by it can be asymptomatic or cause acute respiratory infections and encephalitis.

The organization notes that although nipah has caused only a few known outbreaks in Asia, it can infect a wide range of people and animals. The first outbreak was recorded in Malaysia, it is believed that the source of infection then were pigs. The next outbreaks occurred in Bangladesh and India, then the most likely cause was fruits that were left with the urine or saliva of infected animals.

Mortality from the disease caused by the nipah virus ranges from 40 to 75%. There is no cure or vaccine for this virus.