Bats may not be the cause of the recent Nipah virus outbreak in Kozhikode, Kerala, says the Department of Animal Husbandry.  According to a news report by The Indian Express, the team who was at Changaroth village in Kozhikode district made the observation after their assessment of the bats in the area. All this while, it was widely believed that the culprits of the outbreak were fruit bats that had infested an old well in the property of a family who lost three of its members to Nipah. The team may come out with their final report on May 25, but have pointed out that the rats found in the well of the first victims were not the fruit-eating variety; only fruit-bats can carry the Nipah virus. Dr. Suresh S Honnappagol said that the widespread hunting of the bats will only make the situation worse and has urged everyone to stop panicking about the outbreak.

Fruit bats are known to be primary carriers of the virus. Initial news reports suggested that the well in the property of a person named Moosa, whose grandchildren Sadik and Salih were the first two victims, is the source of the infestation. It was filled with hundreds of bats and the brothers had ostensibly got infected when they stepped into the 100-foot deep well to clean it. But if the bats are not the fruit-eating variety, health officials are now posed with the challenge to find the original source of the infection.

A situation of panic prevails in the state of Kerala and the rest of the country. But experts and health officials are of the opinion that there’s nothing to worry about now. Health Minister KK Shylaja has also assured that everything is being done to contain the infection and all the equipment for treating the infection is in place.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 23, 2018 01:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).