Sat Aug 02 14:38:48 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and rewritten news article:

**Summary:**

Kerala, India, which experienced a Nipah virus (NiV) outbreak in 2018, continues to see sporadic spillover events. In 2025, there were four cases between May and July, all primary. A new hypothesis suggests possible airborne transmission via bat urine aerosols. Disturbing bat roosts (e.g., with firecrackers) increases viral shedding and spillover risk. Experts emphasize modifying human behavior (protecting bat habitats, public education) as key to prevention, rather than trying to eliminate bats. Risk stratification by mapping bat roosts, syndromic surveillance, and strengthened infection control in hospitals are being implemented. Public education efforts focused on behavior modification are in development.

**News Article:**

**Kerala Grapples with Nipah Virus: Is Airborne Transmission a Factor?**

*Thiruvananthapuram, August 2, 2025* – Kerala, India, is once again facing the challenge of sporadic Nipah virus (NiV) spillover events, raising concerns about potential airborne transmission and the need for modified human behavior. Following a significant outbreak in 2018, the state has reported several isolated cases almost annually. This year, between May and July, four primary cases were identified, with three occurring in close proximity in the Palakkad-Malappuram districts.

While the exact mechanism of bat-to-human NiV transmission remains unclear, a new hypothesis is gaining traction. Prominent microbiologist T. Jacob John suggests that airborne transmission through bat urine aerosols might be a possibility. His theory proposes that when bat excreta droplets mix with dust particles, aerosols could be created and humans exposed.

“The possibility of airborne transmission needs to be studied urgently. Air sampling around trees used as bat roosts should be explored in addition to lab studies,” said Dr. John.

Health officials report that disturbing bat roosts may be a contributing factor. Recent attempts by locals to drive away bats from their roosts using firecrackers are believed to have disrupted the ecosystem and increased spillover risk. These actions cause stress-induced viral shedding in bats, leading to the wider dispersal of infected bats.

“Disturbing bat roosts has a dangerous impact. It has been suggested that there should be minimum human-bat interactions, and that is only possible through public education and awareness.” said a health official.

Jonathan Epstein, an epidemiologist at EcoHealth Alliance, who has done extensive research in NiV, reiterated that human behavior is the primary risk for NiV spillover.

Experts emphasize that attempts to eliminate bats are misguided. “Bats have a vital role in the environment and rather than trying to remove them from the landscape, it is human behavior that has to be modified so that there are minimal human-bat interactions” says R. Aravind, Head of Infectious Diseases, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram.

Kerala health officials are implementing several strategies to mitigate future outbreaks, including:

* **Risk stratification:** Mapping bat roosts and studying bat density across districts.
* **Syndromic surveillance:** Strengthening AES (Acute Encephalitis Syndrome) surveillance for early detection.
* **Infection control:** Reinforcing strict infection control practices in hospitals, including universal masking.
* **Public education:** Developing nuanced and focused IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) messages to promote behavior modification.

“Educating the public about bat ecology and convincing them that it is their behavior that has to changed to prevent Nipah, is not going to be an easy task. We are in the process of drawing up IEC messages – which have to be nuanced and focussed – so that people understand how they can reduce their vulnerability through behaviour modification,” a health official said.

The state’s “Zero Nipah” campaign, launched in 2019, encapsulated several important mitigation strategies which including protecting natural habitats and rapid outbreak response capabilities.

The key takeaway is that learning to coexist safely with bats, through modified human behavior and proactive public health measures, is the most plausible path to preventing future Nipah spillovers in Kerala.

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