People shun fruits, juices fearing Nipah virus

Nellore: Fruits resembling ‘fruit bats’ are now worrying Nelloreans who banished use of fresh fruits and fruit juices fearing spread of the deadly Nipah virus which raised alarm bells in Kerala with continuous deaths.

There were frequent postings in the social media that Nipah virus is spreading through fruit bats, now people have banned consuming fruits in city fearing infection of the virus. Basically, Indian palm fruits, grapes, bananas and mangoes are almost being avoided by the denizens who prefer baked foods as an alternative.

There are apprehensions that fruit bats take shelter under banana leaves and Indian palm (Thati) leaves. They are avoiding these fruits as a preventive measure even though blood and serum samples of 21 bats were tested at the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal they were found to be negative.

People generally enjoy mango fruits and also Indian palm fruits (Thati Munjalu) during peak summer. Traders from rural areas bring huge bunches of palm fruits on bicycles and push carts to the city areas for selling fresh Munjalu to the people that quench thirst during summer. With the increased apprehensions on infliction of the deadly virus through the trees where they take shelter, people are completely avoiding the fruits.

“Sales were good just 15 days ago. But, the situation has changed with reports that some disease was infecting people and now we are bringing major portion of stocks back home. Some others are shifting to other business. I cannot name the disease correctly,” said K Rangaiah from Indukurpet area who sells palm fruits at Madras Bus Stand area.

Even educated people are refusing to have fruits and fresh fruit juices as they fear that they may contain the dangerous virus. “My son asked me not to take fruits especially bananas, palm fruits, grapes, and mangoes. So, we are opting for biscuits, cakes, bread, and other baked products now as an alternative. My family members are telling me not to eat anything outside,” said a senior bank manager maintaining anonymity.

Further, Medical and Health department officials are also taking preventing measures with regard to the students from Kerala who study in nursing colleges and other related courses.

Dr C Varasundaram, DM&HO, said that they asked private medical and nursing colleges in the district to provide leaves to the students who visited their native places in Kerala.

He said the institutions were also asked to allow the students only after thorough check-up and after ensuring that there are no symptoms of the virus.

Dr Sundaram also said they would create awareness among people through literature and the draft has been sent for approval of the district
administration.