As Kerala witnessed its first Nipah virus fatality with the death of a 12-year-old in its Kozhikode district, experts stress the importance of ascertaining the source of transmission of the fatal virus, which is highly contagious once it jumps from animals to humans in whom high morbidity and mortality rates have been observed.  According to Dr Ashutosh Biswas, Professor, Department of Medicine at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the fruit bats are the carriers of the virus. 

"Fruit bats are the carriers of the virus, and they are the main cause of transmission. Fruit bats live in a specific geographical territory. If they fly to other places, naturally this virus can be transmitted. We don't have specific treatment for the disease," he said.  "So, we have to understand that this is a very serious disease and is associated with high morbidity and mortality," he added. Further, Biswas said that Nipah is a Zoonotic disease and the animals are its carriers, especially the fruit bats.