Risk of Nipah virus transmission through date palm sap trade in Bangladesh: a qualitative ethnographic study

This study provides important insights into the knowledge of Nipah virus and understanding of its transmission in the sap collector communities where outbreaks have occurred. It underscores the need for educational outreach programs to raise awareness and promote protective measures among the stakeholders engaged in raw date palm sap harvesting. Future research should explore raw sap distribution and trading networks in large areas to better characterize the geographies, behavioral, and cultural practices that influence Nipah virus transmission. Culture-sensitive interventions with economic incentives, involving harvesters, local governments, and non-governmental organizations, along with testing the effectiveness of protective measures, are essential to prevent the spillover of Nipah and other bat-borne emerging viruses in Bangladesh.