Kolkata, Amid considerations over a doable Nipah virus menace, bats at Kolkata’s Alipore Zoo are present process RT-PCR testing to rule out an infection, a senior official of the state Forest division mentioned on Saturday.
A workforce from the Nationwide Institute of Medical Analysis collected blood and swab samples from bats on the zoo for over two days, Thursday and Friday, and left quickly after finishing the method, he mentioned.
“The workforce collected swab samples from bats and left. They’ve adopted all of the protocols throughout the course of,” Alipore Zoo Director Tripti Sah instructed PTI.
In response to a forest division official, pattern assortment on the zoo was carried out over Thursday and Friday and accomplished earlier than the zoo gates had been opened to guests at 9 am.
Two well being staff at a personal hospital at Barasat in North 24 Parganas district had examined optimistic for Nipah virus this month.
Nipah virus is a notifiable illness, requiring fast reporting to the central authorities.
By the way, as a part of efforts to hint the potential supply of the Nipah virus, RT-PCR assessments are being carried out on bats throughout numerous components of West Bengal.
Samples have just lately been collected from bat populations in Madhyamgram, Barasat and Basirhat. Alipore Zoo stays the one facility in Kolkata that homes a bat enclosure, prompting well being authorities to incorporate it within the surveillance drive.
The testing is being carried out collectively by the Nationwide Institute of Virology and the Indian Council of Medical Analysis beneath the supervision of the state Well being division, with logistical help from the state Forest division.
State’s Chief Wildlife Warden Sandeep Sundriyal mentioned the method was carried out following due process.
“Catching bats require prior permission from the Forest division. The Well being division sought approval, which we granted,” Sundriyal mentioned.
“Skilled groups are visiting areas the place bats are current throughout the state and amassing samples. The identical course of was adopted at Alipore Zoo,” he mentioned.
He added that precautionary measures had been already in place on the zoo.
“The zoo authorities have taken superior preventive steps. There isn’t any cause for fast panic,” Sundriyal mentioned.
Take a look at outcomes are anticipated within the coming days, a senior official of the state Well being division mentioned.
“Whether or not the bats at Alipore Zoo are utterly protected shall be identified after the take a look at studies arrive,” a well being division supply mentioned.
In the meantime, the skilled workforce is scheduled to go to Nadia district on Saturday to gather bat samples as a part of the continued statewide Nipah surveillance train.
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