The Nipah virus is naturally harboured within fruit bats found in South and Southeast Asia. It spreads to human bodies primarily through direct contact with infected animals or consumption of food products exposed to saliva or urine from infected bats. Human-to-human transmission is also possible through respiratory secretions which is why infected people have to be kept isolated

With high fatality rates ranging from 40 to 75 percent, the outbreak is raising concerns among experts who view it as a potential epidemic risk. Unfortunately, there is neither a vaccine nor a cure available for this infection. Its first outbreak was recorded in Malaysia and Singapore in 1988, informs Dr Mala Kaneria – a consultant with Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai

According to research conducted by the National Institute of Virology, the Nipah virus is spreading among bat populations in nine Indian states and one union territory. States like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, and Pondicherry all had antibodies to the Nipah virus

It is believed that the genesis of this virus can be traced to the fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family. The bat`s saliva and urine contain viruses, which can easily contaminate food or water sources when they feed or roost near them. Apart from bats, the virus also spreads through other animals like pigs, horses and dogs; and is also being considered a bioterrorism threat by WHO

Kerala Health Minister Veena George said that The Indian Council of Medical Research and WHO had conducted studies on the issue to verify the presence of the virus in those nine Indian states. She further adds, "The virus we found in Kerala is identified as Indian Genotype or I Genotype which is similar to the strain found in Bangladesh. We have two strains of Nipah Virus one is Malaysian and the other from Bangladesh"