Pattaya: Villagers in the Pattaya-Naklua area of Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province, are increasingly worried about a large colony of fruit bats that may be carriers of the Nipah virus. This concern arises following news of a severe Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal, India, where five cases have been confirmed, and over 180 close contacts are under quarantine and tracing.
According to Thai News Agency, the Nipah virus can be transmitted from animals to humans through contact with infected animal feces or bodily fluids. Fruit bats are known carriers, and other animals like pigs, horses, cats, goats, and sheep could also harbor the virus if infected by bats. Human-to-human transmission is possible through contact with bodily fluids such as blood or saliva from infected individuals.
Ms. Prasong, a local resident, expressed her concerns about the thousands of fruit bats clinging to large trees along the road, especially during the morning and evening hours. She noted that bat droppings cover the ground below, a situation that has persisted for many years. Despite the landowner's attempts to cut down trees to deter the bats, they keep returning once the branches regrow. Ms. Prasong is calling for intervention from authorities to address the potential health hazard posed by the bats, especially in light of the recent Nipah virus outbreak and its transmission from bats.