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Species of bats dwelling on the old banyan trees in Baradari garden Patiala, may prove hazardous

May 25, 2018 05:46 PM

Punjab News Express
PATIALA:  Former Depuyy Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Bir Devinder Singh today warned against threat of Nipah virus in Patiala where various species of bats are dwelling in large number.

In a sstatment issued here he said that there are frightening reports in the media that eighteen dead bats have been found in a government school compound in Nahan City of Sirmour District of Himachal Pradesh. Kozhikode and Malappuram districts of Kerala are worst affected by the bat-borne Nipah virus. The deadly virus has reportedly claimed 12 deaths in Kerala so far. The deadly virus is known to jump from bats to other animals and humans, which it did recently in Kerala’s Kozhikode to infect 14 persons and kill 12.

Nipah virus (NiV)  is reportedly a paramyxovirus whose reservoir host is fruit bats of the Henipaviruns genus Pteropus.

He said that Patiala city was one city in Punjab which hosts many species of bats. These species of bats are mostly seen dwelling on the old banyan trees either in the Baradari Garden in the close neighborhood of Yadwindra Colony or right behind the Kali Devi Temple near Sheran wala Gate, Patiala. These two places are their most cherished abodes. It is pertinent to mention here that few states in India have already declared such species, as vermin for the human settlements.

In view of the outbreak of Nipah virus (NiV)  in Kerala and dead bats found in  government school compound in Nahan (Himachal Pradesh), The Government of Punjab, in particular the administration of the Patiala District should take  immediate notice of the presence of these species of bats dwelling in the city and take necessary obligatory recourse, as per the determined parameters of Government of India to deal with such situations; else it has the potentials to prove perilous for the safety of the humans.

This matter has been brought to the instant notice of the Health Minister, Punjab Sh. Brahm Mohindra and Deputy Commissioner, Patiala Mr. Kumar Amit, as well, by me this morning for their due diligence.
 

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