Don't chase away bats with crackers or cut down trees to drive them away; Experts warn people 

KOZHIKODE: Health experts say that trying to drive away bats by bursting firecrackers in fear of Nipah will backfire. Health Minister Veena George also responded after plans for such efforts were posted on social media.

The sight of bats has started to induce fear as the Nipah virus began to spread. However, it is advised not to harm or endanger them in the name of Nipah. The warning is that if the bats are provoked, they will release more secretions, increasing the possibility of the virus spreading.

The Nipah virus spreads from fruit bats to other animals and humans. Eating fruits that have been bitten by bats can lead to infection. Contact with the excreta of bats carrying the Nipah virus can also cause virus infection.

Bats can be seen in large numbers in the trees of the rural areas. People living near it are trying to drive them out and cut trees in fear of Nipah. However, bats become panicked and more dangerous when provoked.

Bats will excrete more excreta in these circumstances. This increases the chance of the virus spreading. When trees are cut down, they move in large numbers to other places, which can lead to the spread of disease.