SHOT reports that the Nipah virus can be transmitted through mangoes, so several cases of the disease are recorded annually after eating this fruit.
According to local residents, bats of the genus Pteropus , known as "fruit bats," love to nibble on mangoes and are the primary carriers of the Nipah virus in tropical countries. These bats leave their contaminated saliva on the fruit, which humans then unknowingly consume. The virus can remain viable on mangoes for up to three days before being transmitted to humans.
India contributes roughly half of the world's mango production , and West Bengal is particularly notorious for this , having recorded three cases of Nipah virus in its mango orchards, which cover over 100,000 hectares and produce around one million tons . Thanks to its vast orchards, the state is also home to large colonies of fruit bats.
A 2023 study showed that some of these bats carry antibodies to the virus, confirming the spread of the Nipah virus in the region via mango bats.
Locals advise tourists to wash mangoes thoroughly before eating them, carefully inspect their peel, and avoid buying them cut up, to reduce the risk of infection.
It should be noted that the Nipah virus is deadly and currently has no cure. The World Health Organization considers it a high-risk disease, as it can be transmitted through bats and contaminated fruit.
