Nipah checklist: Avoid fruits with incisions, wash your hands thoroughly

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Nipah virus has reared its ugly head in India yet again. Yesterday, about six individuals in Kerala tested positive for the virus.
According to a WHO report, while not as contagious as the Covid-19, the Nipah virus (named after a village in Malaysia where the first outbreak occurred in the late ‘90s), is far more deadly, with a fatality rate of 30-70 per cent!

Everything You Need To Know About Nipah

The Nipah virus is mainly transmitted via food contamination. A specific animal — the fruit bat is often regarded as the carrier of this disease. Consuming date palm sap or fruits infected by the saliva of this bat can make you vulnerable to the disease. Close contact with pig excrement can also increase the risk of getting infected. Here’s how you can keep yourself safe.

Be Careful Of What You Eat!

Since fruit bats have been repeatedly associated with the outbreak of Nipah, make sure to steer clear from fruits and vegetables that come with holes, gashes, or suspicious discolouration, as they may have been tainted by fruit bats. Stick to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Maintain Personal Hygiene

Make sure to wash your hands thrice a day. Carry a bottle of hand sanitiser always. It would be better if your hand sanitiser has a small amount of alcohol such as isopropyl and ethyl alcohol. Don’t touch food without having squeaky clean hands.

Avoid People Who Are Infected

Although the Nipah virus is not as contagious as its cousin the SARS-CoV-1, it is still very possible to get infected with the Nipah virus if you are exposed to the secretions of the patient such as saliva or nose droplets! So if you know someone who has been diagnosed with the virus or showing suspicious symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, nausea, etc, avoid close