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The delay in identifying the host of the zoonotic virus occurred because the wrong species of bats were trapped and tested in May.
Initially, a central medical team dismissed bats as the main source of infection after bat samples in two districts of Kerala were tested negative.
Later, another medical team in its report to the Ministry of Health of the Union said that bats can not be excluded because the samples were taken from insectivorous bats, which are not known as Nipah.
In the second round, samples of 55 fruit bats were collected and sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune.
However, the health department of Kerala still needs to receive an official communication from the Ministry of Health of the Union on the results.
"The results indicated that frugivorous bats were the source of Nipah, but no official communication or report on the results has yet been received," said Rajeev Sadanandan, deputy chief secretary (health ) of the state.
He added: "The prevention of transmission between bats will be part of the strategy for dealing with future epidemics."
The natural host of the virus consists of fruit-eating bats of the family Pteropodidae, Pteropus genus. The intermediate hosts of this instance were pigs.
The appearance of the Nipah virus was first reported at Kampung Sungai Nipah, Malaysia, in 1998.
There is no vaccine or drug to treat Nipah infection. The main treatment of human cases is intensive supportive treatment.
According to the World Health Organization, human infections range from asymptomatic infection, acute respiratory infection (mild, severe) and fatal encephalitis.
Infected persons initially develop flu-like symptoms of fever, headache, myalgia (muscle aches), vomiting and sore throat.
This may be followed by dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, and neurological signs that indicate acute encephalitis. Some people may also experience acute respiratory distress.
Encephalitis and seizures occur in severe cases, progressing to coma within 24-48 hours.
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