Nipah virus: Pig rearers, pork stall owners in Coimbatore put on high alert

COIMBATORE: Health officials in the district are on a drive to create awareness among pork stall owners and the people who rear pigs on the need to take precautions to keep Nipah virus at bay. The virus had recently resurfaced in neighbouring Kerala.
The officials said while animals such as dogs, cats, horses and goats could become carriers of the virus, pigs had higher chances of getting infected with the virus, as they were mainly fed rotten fruits.“Fruit eating bats are major carriers of Nipah virus. Pigs have chances of contracting the virus if they eat the fruits bit by bats.”
A corporation health official said there were a number of pig farms on the outskirts of the city and many pork stalls in the city as well as rural areas. “We have asked them to be extra cautious and report if pigs develop some diseases. The virus can spread to humans when they come in close contact with the infected animal. It mainly spreads through body fluids like nasal or respiratory droplets, urine or blood.”
The official said butchers too had to be very careful. “They have to compulsorily wear face masks and aprons to minimize the chances of contracting the virus.”
According to another health official, in countries such as Malaysia and Bangladesh, where Nipah outbreak was frequently noticed, spread mainly occurred through pigs. “People there had resorted to culling a large number of pigs to contain the spread.”
He also advised against consuming palm sap, as there was a chance of it getting mixed with the urine of an infected bird. “However, there is no need to panic, as the virus outbreak is reported only in Kerala.”
Collector G S Sameeran, meanwhile, said the local bodies were instructed to take all precautionary measures to prevent a Nipah outbreak in the district.