Nipah scare triggers surveillance of bats at Alipore Zoo

The Health Department in West Bengal has been put on high alert following suspected signs of the Nipah virus among bats, prompting intensified surveillance measures. As part of precautionary steps, a team from the National Institute of Virology collected samples from bats at Alipore Zoo in Kolkata to assess potential infection risks.

The Pune-based NIV team reached Alipore Zoo early on Saturday and completed the exercise before the zoo opened to visitors at 9 am. Blood and saliva swab samples were collected from tree-roosting bats and will be tested using RT-PCR to detect any presence of the virus. Officials said the early-morning operation ensured public safety and avoided disruption of zoo activities.

Health authorities have identified Alipore Zoo as a key surveillance point, as it is the only location within the Kolkata metropolitan area that hosts a large natural population of bats. Experts believe bats could act as a major source of infection if the virus spreads in the city, prompting close monitoring by the Health Department and the ICMR.

Surveillance efforts have also been extended beyond Kolkata to districts such as Madhyamgram, Barasat and Basirhat, while another expert team has been dispatched to Nadia district. Officials said test reports may take a few days, adding that the exercise is part of routine preventive monitoring to avert any potential public health threat.